Colombian grey cement deliveries slipped 0.6 per cent YoY to 0.999Mt in May 2017, according to DANE, the country’s statistics office. This compares favourably with a 5.3 per cent market contraction reported in May 2016.

Rains in several parts of the country have affected sales, according to local sources. The market of Casanare saw sales drop by nearly a third while Norte de Santander and Cesar reported decreases of around 15 per cent. The regions of Valle del Cauca and Atlántico reported a drop in sales of -3.9 and -5.2 per cent, respectively.

Grey cement production decreased 3.1 per cent in May 2017 to 1.022Mt against a 6.6 per cent decline in May 2016, when output reached 1.054Mt.