Cement consumption in Brazil saw a 5.4 per cent increase in January 2025 as SNIC, the country's cement association, reported domestic sales of 5.174Mt, compared with 4.911Mt in January 2024. 

Sales in the southeast were up 5.4 per cent YoY to 2.335Mt in January 20205 from 2.215Mt while in the northeast volumes increased by six per cent You to 1.149Mt from 1.084Mt. In the south sales advanced by 12 per cent YoY to 0.905Mt from 0.717Mt in January 2024. However, deliveries in the central-west were down by 3.7 per cent YoY to 0.54Mt from 0.561Mt in the year-ago period – the only region to record a drop. In the north dispatches edged up by 0.8 per cent YoY to 0.245Mt in January 2025 from 0.243Mt. 

SNIC attributed the positive trend to continued growth of the labour market and household income, due to an increasing payroll, low levels of unemployment and a record number of formal contracts. 

In addition, the real estate market, an important driver of cement consumption, recorded growth in financing in 20241, although changes in housing credit lines have been negatively impacted.

There has also been a strong movement in sales and launches, driven by the Minha Casa, Minha Vida projects, which continue to expand. Sales of construction materials also continued to rise last year, said SNIC.

However, SNIC voiced concerns over the impact of inflation, labour costs, continued increases in interest rates, and high levels of debt and default on the construction industry.

"The expectation for 2025 is positive, the real estate market will continue to be an important driver of cement consumption, driven by the Minha Casa, Minha Vida programme. The infrastructure agenda is expected to see improved performance from the PAC and the increasing use of concrete pavement for road repairs, which will enable the adequate and efficient flow of the country's record harvest. The sector's radar also includes sanitation concessions, which should be implemented in 2025 and will generate demand in the medium term, two or three years after the start of the contracts, when the construction of water and sewage treatment plants will actually begin,” said Paulo Camillo Penna, SNIC's president.

Meanwhile, exports continued to decline with a 25 per cent fall to 6000t reported in January 2025. In the year-ago period, exports reached 8000t.