As 2010 draws to a close, Vietnam expects to export a further 200 000 – 250 000 t of cement and clinker over the final weeks, as the nation looks to achieve an annual total of 700 000 t. Cement consumption for the year has been predicted to reach around 51 million t – an 11% increase y/y. Over the first 10 months of the year, 40.4 million t of cement had been sold – 80% of Vietnam’s annual target, 12% more than the same period last year.
Last month (October), Vietnam imported 50 000 t of clinker, and a total of 1.8 million t over the first 10 months of the year. Up to 2 million t should be imported by the end of the year, 40% less than in 2009. The Ministry of Construction has previously issued Decree 01/2010/TT-BXD to regulate the quality of clinker. The Ministry has also asked cement producers to reduce clinker imports from Thailand, while companies claim that the expense of transporting clinker from northern Vietnam drives up the cost.