State-owned Vietnam Cement Industry Corp (Vicem) reported cement and clinker sales of 18.88Mt in the first eight months of this year. This represents an increase of 11.5 per cent when compared with 8M17.

Clinker production from the company’s cement plants also increased by six per cent to 13.43Mt while in terms of cement, output rose 6.3 per cent to 15.24Mt.

In August alone, clinker and cement sales were up 28.3 per cent YoY to 2.57Mt, of which 2.06Mt was exported. Clinker output increased YoY by 3.1 per cent to 1.74Mt and cement production by 6.4 per cent to 1.88Mt.

In September, Vicem’s production targets are 1.68Mt of clinker and 2.18Mt of cement. Sales are expected to reach 2.45Mt of clinker and cement.

The company forecasts a revenue of more than VND37trn (US$1.6bn) and a profit of VND2.9-3trn in 2018. Contributions to the state budget are expected to be VND1.65trn.