The CeMAP figures cover consumption of local cement and cement imports.

Cement consumption of Luzon-based manufacturers remained unchanged in 2003 relative to the year-ago level of 194.40m bags, equivalent to 7.78Mt. Total cement sales in Luzon reached 194.16m bags, up 3.98%, with the island accounting for all cement imports at the time.

Manufacturers in Northern Luzon posted a 7.78% dip in cement sales to 42.42 million bags. Limay Grinding Mill Corp., which ceased production in September, sold its remaining 346,918 bags of cement in October and November. For the year, the company’s sales slid by 54% to 2.77m bags.

Sales of Metro Manila-based producers was estimated at around 127.43m cement bags in 2003, higher by 5.37% than the prior year. Top gainers in the region were Republic Cement Corp. and Continental Cement Corp., which surged 16.63% to 24.05m bags and 15.56% to 15.13 million bags, respectively.