Peru: market shows signs of monthly pick-up

The Peruvian cement market continues to show signs of recovery as market contraction is decelerating in October, according to Asocem, Peru’s cement producers’ association.

Domestic sales fell 0.5 per cent YoY to 923,000t from 928,000t in October 2015 while the decrease in October 2014 was one per cent. Exports fell from 30,000t to 26,000t. On the supply side, output from the country's cement plants rose 1.7 per cent from 946,000t to 962,000t when compared to October 2014.

“The cement market continues to offer signs of improvement. Production has risen for two consecutive months and the fall in national dispatches is each time smaller,” according to Asocem.

"Public investment continues to decline but at a lower magnitude. National government spending accumulated from January to October 2015 was 30 per cent higher than the same period in 2014, but regional and local governments decreased their expenditure by 21 and 31 per cent, respectively, "said the cement association in a statement.