Argentine cement demand sees 12% rise

Argentina saw a 18.1 per cent MoM drop to 845,690t in dispatches (including exports) in April but noted a 10.7 per cent rise YoY, according to the country’s Portland Cement Manufacturers’ Association.

Domestic deliveries fell by 184,000t or 17.8 per cent to 844,324t when compared with March, despite a rebound in the first few months of the year, supported by private and public works. However, when compared with April 2016, the domestic market expanded by 11.6 per cent.

Exports were down 29.8 per cent MoM and 35.3 per cent YoY to 4544t while imports rose sharply from 30t in April 2016 to 3178t one year later. When compared with the previous month when 1474t entered the country, imports saw a 115.6 per cent rise.

For the first four months of the year, Argentine cement consumption reached 3.544,533t, up 7.3 per cent. This included domestic dispatches of 3,302,794t (+6.9 per cent YoY) and 14,046t of imports. Exports rose 6.8 per cent YoY to 27,298t, resulting in total dispatches of 3,557,785t, up 6.9 per cent YoY.