Vietnam exported 2.95Mt of cement and clinker in the first two months of 2017, representing an increase of 18.7 per cent YoY. The total value of the shipments reached US$103.69m, up 13.2 per cent YoY, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

In February, clinker and cement exports rose 27.3 per cent MoM to 1.67Mt and 21.5 per cent to US$58.22m in terms of value.

Key importers of cement during the 2M16 were the Philippines, Bangladesh, Taiwan and Mozambique.

However, intense competition from other countries, including China and Thailand, has seen Vietnamese cement producers face increasing challenges in promoting exports.

Vietnam’s cement sales are predicted to reach 95 million tons by 2020, including 80 million tons of domestic sales and 15 million tons of clinker and cement exports, said Nguyen Quang Cung, Chairman of the Vietnam Cement Association (VNCA).