Cambodian cement demand expected to rise

Cambodia's construction sector is seeing demand for cement and brick rise by some 10 per cent in 1H19 and cement producers are forecasting a strong 2H19.

Chip Mong INSEE Cement Corp has increased its cement supply by 10 per cent compared to the 1H18 said Tieng Vichea, the company's public and government relations manager. However, cement producers have not driven through large price increases.

"Our selling prices in the first half of this year changes very similarly to production costs over the same period, at around three to four per cent. The main cause of [the production increase] is due to [rising] energy and packaging costs," added Mr Vichea.

Mr Vichea believes demand in the country for cement will reach 8-9Mt in 2019 up from 6-7Mt in 2018. Chip Mong INSEE is in a good position to benefit from the increased demand with a market share of 26 per cent in Cambodia.