Cement consumption up year-on-year

The ministry's Building Material Department said that of these, 40.26 million tonnes of cement were sold on the domestic market, a year-on-year surge of 8 % while the export volume of cement reached 11.85 million tonnes, a 12 % lower than the same period of last year.

However, total consumption of cement in September was down 9 % to 5.37 million tonnes, including 4.27 million tonnes for the domestic market, 11 % lower than last month, chinhphu.vn reported.

Experts in building materials said the reduction in total consumption volume of cement in September was due to the impact of the rains and the "ghost month" when people often avoid starting construction projects.

They expect cement consumption on the domestic market to be better by the year-end when the construction season begins.

However, the cement industry would find it difficult to export cement by the year-end because some cement exporters in the region would increase their volumes to between 5 and 6 million tonnes.

Le Van Toi, head of the Building Material Department said the enterprises should promote domestic consumption of cement and then improve competitive ability of cement products for exports.

Nguyen Quang Cung, chairman of the Vietnam Cement Association, said cement factories located near seaports with high capacity and high technology accorded priority to exports, the Cong thuong newspaper reported.

Tran Thanh Hai, deputy head of the Import Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the department would co-operate closely with the building material department to maintain a balance between supply and demand, and assess the ability of cement enterprises when joining the world market to ensure reasonable solutions in production and business for local cement enterprises.