Cement consumption up 4.4% in Jan-Aug, Colombia
Some 5.23Mt of cement were sold in Colombia during the first eight months of the year, a 4.4 per cent increase compared to the same period of 2005, according to figures from the Colombian cement producers institute (ICPC).
The amount of gray cement sold in the country during August was also up, climbing 7.6 per cent YoY to nearly 729,000t, which was the highest monthly figure seen this year and the fourth best figure seen in history.
Cement sales in the first half of 2006 totaled 3.82Mt, which was growth of 3.2% compared to the same period year-on-year.
This growth in cement consumption is due to the "positive period seen in construction activity in the country," the ICPC report stated.
During the first six months of the year gray cement production reached 4.80Mt, while clinker production totaled 3.72Mt, year-on-year increases of 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively.
In the meantime, Cementos Argos has finally completed the acquisition of Cementos Andino and Concrecem after having received approval from the trade and industry regulator (SIC) in May.
The deal to buy both firms is worth US$192m and includes mines, mining licenses, cement plants, concrete plants and distribution systems, as well as Andino’s debts, which have risen to over US$50mn.
Cementos Andino owner, Grupo Empresarial Antioqueño, will now have total cement production capacity of more than 9Mt a year. Published under Cement News
