There will be no new cement projects in Vietnam until early 2017, according to reports in the media. The government is continuing to review all cement projects and retracting permits for those deemed ineligible. While five new plants are expected to enter operation this year, permission has not yet been granted for an application to expand two existing plants in the Ha Long Bay area and local press reports that construction of seven new plants has been delayed until early 2017. Last year, the government scrapped nine projects with clinker capacities below 2500 tpd.
The Vietnamese cement market experienced a massive rush up to 2010, boosting installed capacity to around 70 million tonnes. Domestic demand lags somewhat behind at around 48 million tonnes, though exports push total consumption to around 61 million tonnes. World Cement earlier reported that cement consumption in Vietnam reached 5.3 million t in January – February 2014 and exports reached 3.1 million t. The Ministry of Construction is anticipating a 3% rise in cement consumption over the year to 63 million t, of which up to 49 million is forecast to be sold to the domestic market.
Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui