Cement sales in Brazil increased 8.9 per cent to 4.352Mt in April 2018 when compared with 3.997Mt in April 2017, according to preliminary industry data published by the country’s cement association, SNIC. Exports were up 40 per cent to 7000t in April 2018 from 5000t from the year-ago period.
According to the President of the National Union of the Cement Industry (SNIC), Paulo Camillo Penna, the increase in cement sales in April was directly impacted by the number of working days: "We had two more if we compare with April 2017 Considering the values per working day, we would have a decrease of 0.8 per cent, "he said.
Apparent consumption, which includes imports, in Brazil slipped by 0.5 per cent YoY to 17Mt in the January-April 2018 period. In terms of domestic sales, these reached 16.9Mt during the period. When compared with 4M17, this represents a slippage of 0.2 per cent. Exports fell by 16.7 per cent to 25,000t while imports were up 6.5 per cent YoY to 358,000t.
Mr Penna reminds that these data are within the expectations of the industry, considering the current scenario of improvement in the economic activity of the country. "By the end of this quarter (April-May-June), we should announce our first positive results since 2015 and close the year with growth close to one per cent,” he said.
