Vietnam sales eight-month update

Vietnam sold 46.92Mt of cement and clinker in the first eight months of this year, rising 10 per cent from a year earlier and fulfilling 65 per cent of the annual target, according to the country's Building Material Department of the Ministry of Construction.

Of the total volume, 36.02Mt of cement were sold in the domestic market, up nine per cent YoY, while 10.9Mt were exported, rising 17 per cent YoY.

In August Vietnam’s cement and clinker sales were down four per cent from July but up 19 per cent from the same month of last year to 6.08Mt, including 4.83Mt of domestic sales, down five per cent MoM but up 11 per cent YoY.

The country’s clinker and cement exports in the month rose one per cent MoM and 27 per cent YoY to 1.25Mt, the department noted, adding that the reduction of domestic cement sales was mostly driven by the rainy season. The output volume is predicted to continue increasing thank to the operation of several cement plants, including Cong Thanh Cement plant with a capacity of 3.6Mta.

The department also predicted that demand of cement in the domestic market will rebound at the end of this year, as many real estate projects will restart.

The ministry predicted Vietnam's sales of cement and clinker to rise 1.5-4 per cent YoY to between 72-74Mt in 2015, of which domestic sales will rise 4.5-6.5 per cent to 53-54Mt and the exports will be at between 19- 20Mta.

Vietnam has become the fifth-largest cement producer and consumer in the world after China, India, Iran and the US. The country now has 74 cement production lines with a combined output of 77Mta.