Cement consumption in Latin America remains mixed in the first half of the year

 

• Cement consumption in Colombia and Argentina driven by higher housing sales and growing investment
• Brazilian cement market impacted by high inflation and household debt
• Cement sales in Mexico decline in the first six months of the year

Greenwich (CT), USA, September 06, 2022 – Cement consumption posted a mixed performance across markets in Latin America in the first half of 2022, according to CW Research’s Cement Country Market Data.

Year-to-date through June, cement consumption declined in key regional markets including Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. Whereas, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru all witnessed an increase in consumption volumes as a result of a period of gradual economic recovery, capacity expansions and reactivation of public works, as well as private investments.

"Markets where cement consumption has dipped or stagnated compared to June last year, was due to a multitude factors, including, the rising price of raw materials, increasing economic uncertainty, and stubbornly high inflation, impacting both business investments as well as individual consumption patterns", highlighted Wanderson Teixeira, Business Analyst at CW Group.

Brazilian cement consumption declines in June as the economy faces challenges

For the year-to-date through June, cement consumption in Brazil declined more than 2 percent, driven by high inflation and household debt, which have been impacting the industrial sector. The country also saw consumption decline compared to the previous month and to June 2021.

In Chile, bagged cement sales continued to decrease year-on-year in June, by almost 17 percent while year-to-date, bagged cement sales declined more than 8 percent compared to the first six months of 2021. The Monthly Indicator of Economic Activity (Imacec) rose 1 percent on a yearly bases in June, associated with the good performance services activities.

Cement consumption rises in Argentina amid growing investment

In June, cement consumption increased year-to-date, year-on-year, and month-on-month in Argentina. Year-to-date, there was an increase of over 8 percent. Argentina´s cement industry is witnessing a period of growth, driven by the increasing construction of private homes boosted by financing at a very low-interest rate, as well as a government plan to build 120,000 homes by 2023.

In Colombia, cement consumption in June saw an increase of more than 7 percent year-to-date. On a yearly basis, consumption increased more than 4 percent while month-on-month there was an increase of more than 1 percent. New housing sales increased almost 1 percent year-on-year in June, driven by the growth of VIS (social interest housing) sales of 12 percent, while Non-VIS sales declined more than 4 percent compared to the same period of 2021.

Meanwhile, in Peru, cement consumption rose by almost 1 percent in June compared to the previous month. Year-on-year, cement demand increased by over 6 percent in June 2022. Additionally, from January to June, cement consumption rose by more than 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Mexico’s cement consumption impacted by higher input costs

In June, gray cement sales in Mexico posted a 2 percent month-on-month decrease and a year-on-year decrease of over 8 percent. Year-to-date, gray cement sales fell by 7 percent in the first half of the year. Rising energy prices have been impacting gray cement prices, therefore, negatively affecting the sector’s performance.

CW Research’s Cement Country Market Data reporting covers monthly cement volume trends across the globe. The service provides data and statistics on monthly demand and supply volumes for the largest cement producing and consuming markets around the world. Presented in an objective, easy-to-understand format, the Cement Country Market Data is an indispensable tool for producers, suppliers, traders, investors and end-users that need to quickly understand developments in the world cement markets.

Find out more about Cement Country Market Data here.