The profit of the Chinese cement industry reached a record monthly high of CNY14.7bn (US$2.3bn) in April, according to the China Cement Association. Over the first four months of 2018, profits increased 220 per cent YoY to CNY33.7bn.

The profit surge has been attributed to the government scheme to reduce overcapacity in the sector, which has reduced the supply of cement, reports the Xinhua News Agency. As a result, prices are expected to remain high even during the upcoming season.

Nationwide cement output fell 1.9 per cent YoY to 584Mt in the January-April period, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).