Peru cement market contracts 7% in April 2015

Peru’s cement deliveries fell 7.1 per cent YoY to 800,000t in April 2015 due to lower government spending and climate factors, according to Asocem, the Peruvian cement association.

El Niño is expected to continue to affect the construction industry going forward as the climate phenomenon brings inclement weather to Peru. However, public expenditure is forecast to improve as the state government has increased spending by 26 per cent and regional governments by 42 per cent.

Cement production fell 8.3 per cent from 843,000t to 773,000t when compared with April 2014. The fall is attributed to the running down of inventories by cement companies.

Cement exports rose from 20,000t in April 2014 to 31,000t one year later. Bolivia accounted for 18,000t with a smaller shipment of 12,000t being delivered to Chile, which also received 43,000t of clinker in the month.