Cement sales up 6% in 2013

MANILA, Philippines - Cement sales grew six percent in 2013 from a year ago amid strong construction activity, the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) said.

Data from the CeMAP showed total cement sales reached 19.445 million metric tons (MT) last year, up from the 18.356 million MT sold in 2012.

For the fourth quarter alone, cement sales went up 2.1 percent to 4.503 million MT compared to the 4.409 million MT in the same period in 2012.

CeMAP president Ernesto Ordoñez said in a telephone interview the growth in sales in 2013 was supported by the construction activities undertaken by both the government and private sector last year.

For 2014, he said the group expects cement sales to continue to grow.

“We see strong growth in 2014 because of continued confidence in government, which should lead to more investments in projects,” he said.

He said the huge budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for infrastructure spending would likewise support higher cement sales this year.

More investments in mass housing, he added, will also drive higher cement sales.

Philippine Constructors Association Inc. president Augusto Manalo said earlier the construction sector is seen to post double-digit growth this year from about P380 billion in 2013.