Cement demand shows mixed trends in the first nine months of 2022

 

• Vietnamese cement production increases in 9M2022
• Argentina´s cement demand continues to see robust growth
• Saudi Arabia and Pakistan both witness a decline in demand

Greenwich (CT), USA, November 22, 2022 – Cement demand posted a mixed performance across several markets at end of the third quarter of 2022, according to CW Research’s Cement Country Market Data.

Year-to-date through September, cement demand saw an increase in several countries, including Argentina, Japan, and Spain, while witnessing a slowdown in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan which both had declines in demand compared to the same period last year.

"The latest data shows a mixed trend in cement demand. Spain, for instance, has reported several months of declines but on a year-to-date comparison, demand is still above 2021 levels. Meanwhile, Vietnam has witnessed a significant increase in production even though the country remains in a state of oversupply", highlighted Wanderson Teixeira, Business Analyst at CW Group.

Private and public investment boost rise in demand in Argentina

In Argentina, during the first nine months of the year, cement demand stood at 9.7 million tons, up 9.3 percent compared to the same period in 2021. The country's cement sector is seeing rapid expansion, fueled by rising private-home building and low-interest financing, as well as government plans to build over 100,000 houses by next year.

Year-to-date, cement demand reached 10.1 million tons in Colombia in September, compared to 9.6 million tons posted in the same period last year. This is a 0.5 million tons or 5.7 percent increase in the first 9 months of the year

Spain with marginal growth in demand despite a negative trend

In Spain, for the year-to-date through September, cement demand was up by 72,936 tons or 0.7 percent, totaling 10.9 million tons. Spain has now reported three consecutive months of declines, and, if the trend continues, it is possible that annual demand in 2022 will likely end up below last year´s level

Cement production in Poland posted a 5.8 percent month-on-month rise in September, reaching 1.8 million tons. Compared to the same period last year, cement production fell from 1.9 million tons, down by 5.8 percent. During the first nine months, cement production totaled 14.6 million tons, up 1.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan see a drop in demand

For the year-to-date through September, in Saudi Arabia, cement demand was down by 1.2 million tons or 2.9 percent, totaling 38.2 million tons for the first nine months of the year.

In Pakistan, domestic cement sales were down by 3.6 million tons or 10.1 percent, totaling 32.2 million tons for the first nine months. In September alone, domestic cement sales dropped from 4.0 million tons to 3.8 million tons, down by 5.4 percent year-on-year.

Cement production rises in Vietnam

During the first nine months of 2022, cement production in Vietnam stood at 85.5 million tons, up 16.6 percent compared to the same period last year. On a yearly basis, in September, cement production saw an increase of 24.3 percent, reaching 8.7 million tons. The country´s cement sector is facing a challenging road ahead due to headwinds in exports and a slow rebound in pandemic-hit domestic consumption.

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.