Continued dynamism in Colombia’s cement and construction sectors

March 2014

Production of grey cement in Colombia increased by 16.2% y/y in March to reach 1.08 million t, according to the latest figures released by DANE. Domestic sales also improved, rising by 28.9% y/y to 1.04 million t. Although sales fell by 4.3% in Córdoba, they grew in all other regions: Antioquia (33.3%), Cundinamarca (35.7%), Bogotá (22.2%), Valle del Cauca (25.9%) and Bolívar (33.7%).

Over the 12 months to March 2014, production of grey cement rose by 7% y/y and national sales grew by 8.7% y/y. Cement dispatches increased in 16 of the 21 regions analysed by DANE.

1Q14

In the first quarter of this year, production volumes came in at 2.8 million t, 9.8% higher than in 1Q13. Sales volumes on the domestic market reached 2.77 million t, up 14% y/y. On a regional level, the greatest rise in dispatches occurred in Huila (40.7%), Magdalena (50.4%) and North Santander (60.1%).

Cemex LatAm Holdings (CLH) recently announced its 1Q14 results, reporting a 6% rise in operating EBITDA in Colombia. Its net sales in the country also grew, increasing by 16% to US$242 million. CLH will continue its housing initiatives in 2014, with plans to construct around 12 000 houses, most of which will be in Colombia.

Cementos Argos also highlighted the dynamism of the Colombian construction and infrastructure sectors in its latest quarterly results. The cement manufacturer saw dispatches in the country increase by 4% and concrete volumes grow 13.3% in 1Q14.

Edited from various sources by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/30042014/colombian_cement_dispatches_increase_1q14_114/