Brazil 1H09 cement sales steady
Brazilian cement sales held steady in the first six months of 2009, local business daily Valor reported Tuesday.
A survey by the National Cement Industry Association (SNIC) showed domestic cement sales totaled 23.9Mt from January through June, only slightly lower than the 24.3Mt in same period last year.
According to Jose Otavio Carvalho, Executive Secretary of SNIC, cement sales should total 51.4Mt this year, exactly the same as in 2008.
However, June sales fell 2.3% from June, 2008.
"The second half of the year is usually better (for cement sales) because there is less rain and fewer holidays," Carvalho told Valor.
According to Carvalho, the Brazilian government’s housing program has boosted cement sales during the crisis by encouraging construction of low-income homes.
Published under Cement News
