Cement production jumps in 2004

Mexican cement production totaled 35Mt in 2004, a 9.4 per cent increase over 2003, local press reported.  Thanks to government infrastructure works and increased construction and housing projects, cement demand increased 4.5 per cent while concrete demand jumped 15 per cent, analyst Carlos Hermosillo was quoted as saying.  The world’s third largest cement maker, Mexico’s Cemex, controls about 60 per cent of Mexico’s cement market.

Meanwhile no further news over the fate of the Nary Nour trapped now in the port of Altamira for over 200 days. At the last count, local importer CDM appears to have thrown in the towel and awaiting the court decision to finally release the ship in order that the cement could be sold outside Mexico, most likely in the US Gulf.