Philippine cement sales rise 3.4% in 1Q13

Philippine cement sales in the first quarter of 2013 rose 3.4 per cent YoY to 4.787Mt, according to the head of the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines. 

First-quarter cement sales were also up from the fourth quarter sales of 4.409Mt, CeMAP President Ernesto M. Ordoñez, told the Business Recorder.

Filipino cement demand recovered in 2012 from its “slump” in 2011 when the market barely expanded. Last year, consumption grew by 10 per cent YoY to 17.19Mt. The construction boom is expected to continue this year albeit at a slower rate than last year, as the government and private sector undertake more infrastructure projects.  This has led a number of local producers including Lafarge, Holcim and Cemex, to increase volumes to meet expected rises in consumption. For 2013, Filipino cement consumption and production are forecast to increase conservatively by seven per cent.