Superstition behind drop in cement sales

Domestic cement sales in July fell 17.7 per cent to 3.72 million tonnes, a Ministry of Construction report said.

Cement sales in the first seven months were nearly 28 million tonnes, 55.8 per cent of the whole year’s plan. Industry insiders said the fall in cement sales was normal.

“It is easy to understand why the sales are down. The seventh month in the lunar-calendar is coming,” said Tong Duy Tan, head of General Director’s Office of Chinfon Cement Corporation.

Not lucky time

“People often think this is not a lucky time so no construction starts. Because of this, demand for cement decreased,” said Tan.

The head of the Office Bureau under the Viet Nam Cement Association, Nguyen Van Diep agreed: “No need to worry about the decline in cement sales.”

“This situation occurs annually. There have been many storms and rains in recent months so construction has stopped and no new ones have begun.”

Diep said the domestic cement market would recover. Nevertheless, to boost consumption, the ministry has encouraged companies to expand their exports.

It has ordered three companies, Nghi Son Cement Corporation, Chinfon Cement Corporation and Phuc Son Cement Corporation, to find export markets and lift exports 100,000-150,000 tonnes each in the last half of the year.

In July, cement companies produced 4.16 million tonnes, pushing up the total volume in the seven months to 28.9 million tonnes. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam cement, Vietnam cement industry