Cement dispatches in Colombia increased 2.7 per cent YoY to 1.062Mt, according to the country’s statistics office, DANE. The increase is primarily the result of an 8.7 per cent rise in the construction and contractors segment, which expanded by 8.7 per cent.

The largest increases, on a departmental basis, were noted in Nariño (+69.2 per cent), Bolivar (+16.3 per cent), Magdalena (+19.1 per cent) and Cesar (+18.4 per cent).

In terms of production, a 5.4 per cent YoY rise was noted in May as 1.129Mt of grey cement were produced.

In the first five months of 2015, total cement consumption advanced 5.9 per cent YoY to 5.055Mt while output increased by six per cent to 5.221Mt.

The market of Nariño saw the largest expansion by 60.3 per cent, followed by Cesar (+24.2 per cent), Magdalena (+19.8 per cent and Bolîvar (+18 per cent). Antioquia and Bogotá saw sales advance by 9.7 and 4.5 per cent, respectively. At the other end of the scale, Santander register a 5.7 per cent decline while sales in Tolima contracted by 12.5 per cent.