Vietnam sees rising cement demand

Vietnam will consume 28.4Mt of cement next year, up 23.5 percent against this year, the country’s Construction  Ministry said on Tuesday.  The country’s cement demand is estimated at 46.8Mt in 2010, some 62.5Mt in 2015 and around 69Mt in 2020. A small part of the demand will be met by imports, said the ministry.

Vietnam is predicted to import around 6Mt of cement/clinker next year, mainly due to low production capacity of local cement makers, the Vietnam  National Cement Corporation recently told Xinhua, noting that it will import nearly 3Mt of clinker for cement production from Thailand this  year. Vietnam, which has 61 cement facilities with an annual combined capacity of  around 20Mt, is likely to post total cement sales of 26Mt this year, up from 23Mt last year, the corporation said.