Companies in Vietnam sold 72.71Mt of cement and clinker in 2015, rising three per cent from a year earlier and exceeding the whole-year target by one per cent, the country's Ministry of Construction said.

Of the total, 56.5Mt of cement were sold at the domestic market, up 11.1 per cent YoY, while 16.25Mt were exported, falling 17.3 per cent YoY and failing to realise the full-year export target of 20Mt.

During the year the two cement plants were inaugurated, raising the total number of plants across the country to 76 with a combined capacity of 81.5Mta.

In 2016 Vietnam’s sales of cement and clinker are predicted to rise 4-7 per cent YoY to between 75-77Mt, the Ministry of Construction said. Domestic dispatches are expected to account for 58-58.5Mt of the total, while exports are anticipated to be between 16-16.5Mt.