Japan FY 2005 cement consumption down

Domestic cement consumption in Japan will total 56Mt in fiscal 2005/06, ending March 2006, down 2.6 per cent year-on-year, forecasts of the Japan Cement Association (JCA) showed on March 28, 2005.  The figure is expected to mark a year-on-year decrease for the sixth consecutive year. 

Shipments of cement used in public works projects in Japan is expected to total 29Mt in fiscal 2005/06, down 4.9 per cent year-on-year. Shipments of cement used in the private sector are expected to remain flat at 27Mt.  On the other hand Japan cement exports are expected to go up by 1.9 per cent to 10.6Mt in fiscal 2005/06, lifted mainly by the growing cement demand in China and Southeast Asia.