Vietnam: Vietnam's industrial production grew by 6.8% in 2011, lower than that of 2010, according to data released by the Vietnam General Statistics Office (VGSO). Manufacturing industries, the inventory indices of which rose sharply in 2011, include cement, which was up by 64% year-on-year. 

Meanwhile, Vietnam is forecast to export 0.5Mt of cement and 5.5Mt of clinker in 2012, according to an official from the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA). The VNCA's Chief, Nguyen Van Diep, said that Africa would be the targeted market for most of the material.

Vietnam's cement output is forecast to rise to 73Mt in 2012 due to the additional operation of eight new cement plants that have a combined production capacity of 6.9Mt/yr. Meanwhile, the country’s cement consumption is predicted to be around 60Mt in 2012, accounting for 86% of the sector’s total production.

Diep maintained these targets despite cement sales in 2011 falling short of the 54.5 - 56Mt forecast. Cuts in public investment and frozen real estate projects have cut demand significantly in 2011, to around 49Mt.