Housing starts tumbled amid the recession and higher materials costs. And the stricter construction standards implemented in 2007 continued to delay housing starts in fiscal 2008. Public works slowed as well.
Sales sagged nationwide, except for in Okinawa, where they inched up 1% thanks to robust construction of condominiums and other buildings.
Last month, cement sales decreased 11% to 3.9 Mt, marking a 22nd consecutive month of year-on-year declines. The weak demand caused inventories to edge up 1% to 4.41Mt.
