VNCA: Vietnam to export 6Mt of cement and clinker next year

Vietnam is forecast to export 0.5Mt of cement and 5.5Mt of clinker in 2012, said an official from the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA).

VNCA President Nguyen Van Diep said Africa will be the key target market of the country’s cement producers.

In 2012, cement production is expected to rise to 73Mt as eight cement plants come online, adding 6.9Mta of production capacity. National cement consumption is forecast to reach 60Mt or 86% of domestic production.

In the first 11 months of this year, Vietnam’s cement export takings increased by 32.5% to US$221.5m or 70.9% of the full-year target and including US$23.7m in November. National cement sales stood at an estimated 49.15Mt in 2011, lower than earlier forecasts of 54.5-56Mt as the government cut public investment and the real estate market stagnated.