Argentina’s cement market contracted by 6.3 per cent in July 2018 when compared with the previous year, according to the country cement association, AFCP. Domestic consumption fell from 1,016,589t in July 2017 to 952,220t one year later.

Nationwide dispatches by Argentine producers declined to 949,680t fro 1,007,897t, down 5.8 per cent YoY. In addition, imports slumped from 8692t in July 2017 to 2540t in July 2018.

Total domestic output decreased 5.9 per cent to 952,350t in July 2018 from 1,011,687t. This includes 2670t of exports, down from 3790t in July 2017.

However, the first seven months of 2018 saw total consumption (domestic deliveries + imports) increase five per cent YoY to 6.865Mt from 6.536Mt. Imports went up 76.8 per cent to 65,418t in 7M18 from 36,858t in the year-ago period.

Domestic cement producers delivered just under 6.8Mt of cement within Argentina’s borders, up 4.6 per cent from 6.499Mt in 7M17. In addition, they exported 41,495t in 7M18, a volume that edged up 3.7 per cent from 40,017t in 7M17.