Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam’s cement consumption continued to register strong growth inthe first half of this year, especially cement exports, according to theMinistry of Construction.

The ministry’s Department of Building Material reported that in the first sixmonths of this year, the domestic cement consumption was estimated at 51.42million tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 25 percent, fulfilling 61 percent ofthe yearly plan. Of this, the Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (VICEM),holding 34 percent of the local market share, consumed some 11.93 milliontonnes.

Cement exports in the first six months gained a year-on-year surge of 50percent to reach 15.42 million tonnes, reaching 85.6 percent of the annualexport target.

Experts said the strong growth in domestic cement consumption against the sameperiod last year was due to a favourable weather for construction and a highercement export volume to China that had reduced domestic cement production.

The domestic cement industry’s inventory in the first six months stood at onlysome 3.10 million tonnes, including mainly clinker.

The department said in June, the total cement consumption was estimated at 8.71million tonnes, 30 percent higher than the same period last year.

Of this, the domestic cement consumption was 6.91 million tonnes, ayear-on-year increase of 29 percent. VICEM consumed some 2.18 million tonnes.

The cement export volume in June was estimated at 1.8 million tonnes, a surgeof 35 percent over the same period last year.-VNS/VNA