Venezuela cement sales down 17.4%

Cement sales in Venezuela fell 17.4 per cent last year to 2.7Mt from 3.3Mt in 2002 as demand from the construction sector fell back, according to AVPC, the Venezuelan cement producers association.

Cement consumption in Venezuela is about 110kg/person compared to 130kg/person in the region. Despite the fall in sales, prices were up. According to the construction price index of the country’s central bank, BCV, cement products saw a 61.1 per cent price increase in 2003 over the prior year.