Peru’s domestic shipments see 15% first-half rise

Shipments of cement in the Peruvian market totaled 4,4Mt between January and June 2012, a 15 per cent increase over the figure recorded in the same period in 2011, when they totaled 3.83Mt, reported the Asociación de Productores de Cemento (Asocem).

During that period the cement production was 4.48Mt, representing an increase of 13.95 per cent over the same period of 2011, when it was 3.9Mt.? ?In the first half of the year, cement exports reached 67,154t, reporting a YoY increase of 187.25 (23,378t).

Therefore, total shipments for the year to June (domestic sales plus exports) amounted to 4.47Mt, a rise of 16.04 per cent over the same period of 2011, (3.85Mt).

Last year, total shipments rose 2.42 per cent YoY to 8.29Mt.

Cement shipments in June marked the seventh consecutive month of double-digit growth, according to Paul Nano, analyst at Schotiabank Economic Studies. Speaking to the Andina, Peru, He said the increase is due to the return of in private sector investments in real estate and shopping centres, as well as improvements in wages which have led to improvements in private construction.

To a lesser extent, improving shipments were stimulated by recovery of investments in the public sector, led by the regional governments of Callao, Lima Provinces, Cusco and Piura, Mr Nano said.