Vietnam aims to export six million tonnes of cement products, including 500,000 tonnes of cement and 5.5 million tonnes of clinker, by 2012, primarily to the African market, according to the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA).

Head of the VNCA’s office Nguyen Van Diep said that due to the government's policy to tighten public investment in 2011 and the frozen real estate sector, domestic cement consumption stood at 49.15 million tonnes while exports reached 5.5 million tonnes and reserves hit 3 million. The sector production achieved just 85 percent of its total design capacity (67 million tones) while the consumption amounted to 91 percent of the year’s target.

The VCNA estimates that total cement consumption in 2012 will reach 60 million tones, 52-53 million tonnes of which are consumed in the domestic market. 

Mr Diep said eight cement factories with a capacity of 6.9 million tonnes will be put into operation next year, bringing the sector’s total capacity to 73 million tonnes.  

Source: VOV