Faced with a oversupply in its domestic market, Bolivia’s Itacamba, is focussing on export markets. To date the company has exported 200,000t of clinker to Paraguay.

“We are taking advantage of our border location and in addition, taking advantage of the ports of the Tamengo Canal, the export of clinker-cement has been made feasible. So far we have exported around 200,000t. In 2019 we estimate to export at least 250,000t to Paraguay, "said Fernando Tuma, executive director of Itacamba.

In 2017 the company exported cement to northern Argentina, but a currency devaluation in the neighbouring country resulted in less profitable business.

"Itacamba expects to close this year with a production of 800,000t, but by 2019 we hope to produce 1Mt. Then, [total domestic] production will reach 6Mt, when [domestic] consumption only reaches 4Mt. Therefore, that surplus must be exported," he said.

The increase in output is due to the modernisation of cement plants owned by Fancesa, Coboce and Soboce as well as Itacamba’s new 1.2Mta plant in Yacuses. In addition, next year will see the commissioning of an extra 1.3Mta of production capacity by Ecebol.