Peru’s cement market remained largely stable in May with consumption edging up by 0.6 per cent YoY to 0.778Mt and by 2.5 per cent from 0.759Mt the previous month, according to the latest data by Asocem, the country’s cement association.

Peru’s cement production rose 3.4 per cent YoY and four per cent MoM to 0.807Mt in April. Clinker production fell 15.1 per cent to 0.636Mt when compared with April 2018, when output volumes stood at 0.749Mt. However, when compared with May 2017, clinker output increased 10.8 per cent.

Cement exports fell one per cent from 25,900t in May 2017 to 26,100t one year later while clinker exports more than doubled from 37,700t to 98,100t over the same period.

In terms of cement imports, these edged up from 87,300t in May 2017 to 88,600t in May 2018. Clinker imports, which were non-existing in May 2017, stood at 16,700t.

In January-May 2018, the market expanded by three per cent YoY to 3.837Mt from 3.724Mt in 5M17.

In the first five months of 2018, cement output reached 3.956Mt and clinker production 3.244Mt, representing a YoY rise of 2.1 and 6.8 per cent, respectively. In 5M17 cement output reached 3.875Mt.