Bolivia’s cement sales increased by 5.6 per cent YoY to 3.1Mt in the January-October 2022 period, according to the country’s National Institute of Statistics (INE). In the 10M21 demand reached 2.9Mt.

“Speaking of annual values, in 2019 it [sales] closed with 3,956,990t. In 2020 with just 3,031,190t,” said Marcelo Alfaro, general manager of the Bolivian Institute of Cement and Concrete (IBCH).  In terms of cement sales, 2019 was a record year. “In 2021 with 3,613,144t and it is estimated that in 2022 it must have been around 3,700,000t, since as of October it had reached 2,987,499t,” he added.

The highest sales were reported in Santa Cruz with 871,611t, followed by Chuquisaca with 595,821t and La Paz, where sales reached 567,684t. Sales in Oruro stood at 564,561t and those in Cochabamba at 364,545t. Tarija was the smallest market with sales of 190,736t.

Cement production
Cement output advanced by 12 per cent YoY to  3.3Mt in the 10-month period when compared with 2.9Mt produced in January-October 2022.

In terms of Bolivia’s regions, production in Santa Cruz reached 1.04Mt, followed by La Paz with 864,947t, Chuquisaca (589,710t) and Cochabamba (392,035t). Cement plants in Oruro and Tarija produced a total of 280,365t and 176,962t, respectively.