Cement output in China advanced 0.5 per cent in the first eight months of 2018 to 1.38bnt, according to the National Commission for Development and Reform (NCDR). The organisation attributes the growth to an increase in real estate investment.

In August production rose by five per cent, an acceleration when compared with the 3.7 per cent growth reported in August 2017. The growth is due to the higher activity in the real estate market, which expanded by 10.2 per cent YoY in the first seven months of the year.