Vietnam: production rises 16.1% over first five months

Cement production in Vietnam reach 31.4Mt in the first five months of this year, rising 16.1 per cent from a year earlier, the government-run General Statistics Office said.

In May the country's cement output is likely to rise 17 per cent from the same month of last year to 7Mt, the office said in a monthly report.

In the first four months, Vietnam produced to 24.4Mt, according to revised figures.

Vietnam is a leading worldwide cement producer and now has 76 cement production lines with a combined annual output of 81.56Mt.

However, domestic demand is lagging capacity and it is expected that the cement industry will continue to face an excess of supply for the foreseeable future, with exports playing an important role in maintaining profitability levels.

The Ministry of Construction forecast that Vietnam’s sales of cement and clinker will rise 4-7 per cent YoY in 2016, between 75Mt and 77Mt in volume terms, despite a weakening economy.