Peruvian cement association Asocem expects cement consumption in Peru to grow between 3-5 per cent in 2017 as private investment recovers and public works are carried out.

“For 2017 the scenario is positive, due to infrastructure works estimated to total US$20bn and US$40bn in 2018. We will recover the space that we have had after two years of decreases,” said Carlos Ferraro, executive director of Asocem.

He added that the recovery of the cement market depends particularly on the unlocking of two major projects: Peru’s Southern Gas Pipeline and Metro Line 2.

Cement demand is forecast to rise to 893,000t in 2017, from 850,000t in 2016, with a recovery in cement production.