According to statistics released by the General Department of Vietnam Customs, exports of clinker and cement in the first 10 months of 2016 were down 8.4 per cent on the same period a year earlier, Vinanet reports. In terms of their US dollar-dominated value, the fall was even more pronounced, being down 18.6 per cent.
For the year to the end of October, Vietnamese producers exported 12.3Mt of cement and clinker with a value of US$467m.
Bangladesh was the largest importer by volume, taking 3.8Mt of cement and clinker over the period, with a value of US$115m. The Philippines was the highest-spending customer, paying US$149m for 3.2Mt.
According to the Vietnamese government, there are presently 78 cement production lines in the country with a combined capacity of 86.16Mta. The Ministry of Construction previously estimated that exports would reach around 16-17Mt for 2016, but given this latest batch of statistics this figure appears optimistic.
Domestic consumption for 2016 is forecast to be 59-60Mt.
