Displaying items by tag: statistics

Switzerland: Cement deliveries rose by 1% year-on-year to 0.79Mt in the first quarter of 2025, continuing the upward trend seen in the final quarter of 2024, according to Cemsuisse. It attributed the slight recovery to lower interest rates and rising construction applications in the residential sector, but stated that the coming months would indicate whether the current economic uncertainty will affect activity. In the quarter, 36% of deliveries were made by rail and 64% by road.

Brazil: The Brazilian cement industry recorded sales of 15.6Mt in the first quarter of 2025, up by 6% year-on-year, according to the National Cement Industry Union (SNIC). Sales in March 2025 reached 5.3Mt, up by 5% year-on-year. The result was attributed to the continued growth of the labour market and of the population, in addition to a declining unemployment rate. However, SNIC stated that ‘uncertainties’ stemming from the US are likely to be reflected in global inflation and production costs. It projects growth of 1-1.5% for 2025.

SNIC president Paulo Camillo Penna said “In 2024, the industry recovered the losses of 2022 and 2023, closing the year with 4% growth. Projections for the first half of 2025 remain positive, but economic instability marked by the increase in interest rates, personal debt, high inflation and tax issues should reduce the sector's gains in the second half of 2025.”

Kenya: Cement sales fell by 8% year-on-year to 8.47Mt in 2024, the sharpest annual decline in over two decades, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The fall reflects budgetary cuts on public infrastructure projects and a broader slowdown in construction activity, which contracted by 3% in the third quarter of 2024, following a 2% drop in the second quarter.

KNBS said in its report “The contraction was reflected by trends in key industry indicators. For instance, cement consumption declined by 10% to 2.2Mt in the third quarter of 2024, from 2.4Mt in the same quarter of 2023.”

According to the Nation newspaper, the slowdown follows delays in the government’s payments to contractors and the stalling of infrastructure projects. The government indicated that most of the stalled projects will begin to receive funding in the next few days and weeks.

Vietnam: Cement production rose by 4% year-on-year to 36.9Mt in the first quarter of 2025, according to the General Statistics Office. In March 2025, output reached 14.4Mt, up by 1.5% year-on-year. In 2024, the country produced 184.2Mt, an increase of 3.5% year-on-year.

Argentina: Cement despatches in the first three months of 2025 reached 2.3Mt, up by 11% from the same period in 2024. In March 2025, despatches rose by 17% year-on-year and by 1% month-on-month from 0.63Mt and 0.73Mt respectively. The country exported 7791t of cement in March 2025, bringing the year-to-date total for exports to 24,971t. Argentina imported 61t in March 2025 and 618t so far in 2025.

Ukraine: Ukrainian cement and concrete producers are ready to expand capacity to meet reconstruction demand, according to a survey by Consumer and Business Research Ukraine (CBR), despite reduced funding and limited state budget. Cement production dropped to 5.4Mt in 2022 from 11Mt in 2021 but stabilised at 7.4Mt in 2023 and 7.97Mt in 2024. CBR estimates that 8Mt/yr is feasible during wartime, rising to 12Mt/yr in the third or fourth year of reconstruction.

The Ukrainian Cement Association (UkrCement) head Pavlo Kachur said “Reconstruction will begin with demining, reinforcing the front lines and restoring energy infrastructure. Large-scale construction will likely not begin until the third or fourth year.”

At present, plant capacity utilisation varies across regions. Plants in western Ukraine are operating at higher capacity, while those in the south and east remain underutilised. In 2022, plants operated at a loss but retained staff. In 2023, volumes were sufficient to break even. Two-thirds of surveyed consumers increased production in 2023, though 2024 expectations were cautious.

Kachur said “Time will be needed for training, planning and securing financing—and cement producers will use that time to fill the market, primarily by investing in modernisation and capacity expansion. For example, two major projects to build new kilns are already ready in Kryvy Rih and Ivano-Frankivsk.”

The study notes that building brand new plants is unlikely, but modernising existing kilns can be accomplished within a year. It expects at least two plants to launch new kilns, increasing capacity by 2Mt/yr. For example, Kryvyi Rih Cement has obtained a permit to develop the Maryanske limestone deposit (60km from the plant) and plans to build a clinker kiln at the site.

CBR researcher Tetiana Sytnyk said “Cement companies are ready to make rapid investments in modernisation and to launch additional kilns once recovery begins. They’re waiting for clear signals to proceed – such as the allocation of reconstruction funds or a surge in demand to at least 9.5Mt/yr.”

Ukraine exported 1.7Mt of cement in 2024, up from 56,000t in 2021, with Kachur adding that exports have ‘saved’ the local industry during the war. Developed countries will be capable of meeting Ukraine’s reconstruction needs, though this could hurt local producers. Kachur added “During the recovery phase, Ukraine’s market must be as localised as possible with domestic products. Only countries that supported us during the war should have access.”

Pakistan: Total cement despatches, including domestic sales and exports, fell by 9% year-on-year to 3.57Mt in March 2025, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association. Domestic sales dropped by 11% to 2.96Mt, while exports remained stable at 0.61Mt. North-based plants recorded an 85% year-on-year fall in exports to 0.019Mt from 0.12Mt. South-based plants increased exports by 23% to 0.59Mt from 0.48Mt a year earlier.

Between July 2024 and March 2025, total despatches declined by 1% year-on-year to 34Mt. Domestic sales dropped by 7% to 27.5Mt, while exports rose by 28% to 6.53Mt.

Kenya: Cement consumption rose by 27% year-on-year in January 2025, up by 4% in December 2024, according to provisional data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Cement production also grew by 21% year-on-year in January following more than a year of contraction. In the 12 months to January 2025, cement consumption fell by 5% year-on-year and cement production dropped by 6% year-on-year.

Azerbaijan: Cement production rose by 6% year-on-year to 0.58Mt the first two months of 2025, up from 0.55Mt in the previous corresponding period. Cement clinker output increased by 11% to 0.61Mt from 0.55Mt in the same period of 2024, according to the State Statistical Committee.

The State Customs Committee reported exports of 0.14Mt of cement and clinker at a value of US$9.1m. This represents an increase of 32,000t (29%) by volume and US$2.7m (43%) by value compared to the same period in the previous year.

South Korea: Domestic cement sales fell by 25% year-on-year to 4.45Mt in the first two months of 2025, according to the Korea Cement Association. This is reportedly the lowest number recorded for domestic sales in January-February in the past five years. Sales during the same period in 2020–2022 exceeded 6Mt, and in 2023 reached 7.12Mt due to delayed post-Covid construction.

Producers have suspended eight of 35 production lines and may halt two more due to high inventories, which reached 3.4Mt at the end of February 2025, close to 90% of storage capacity.

A Korea Cement Association official said “Unless the construction economy recovers, the management crisis in the cement industry caused by the severe drop in demand will continue for the time being.”