Cement sales rise 6.6% in 2016

MANILA, Philippines - The local cement industry finished 2016 with higher sales despite a slowdown in the fourth quarter due to unfavorable weather conditions.

The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) said cement sales last year rose 6.6 percent to 25.96 million tons from the previous year’s 24.36 million tons.

“The annual increase in sales for 2016 shows the continuing momentum for increased infrastructure,” CeMAP president Ernesto Ordonez said.

Cement sales for the fourth quarter, however, slipped 3.9 percent to 5.84 million tons from 6.08 million tons recorded during the same period in 2015.

Ordonez attributed the drop in the last quarter to two factors.

“First, the fourth quarter of 2015 was a prelude to the 2016 elections, which is not the case now. Second, the fourth quarter 2016 weather with its additional rain was not as conducive as in the fourth quarter of 2015,” he said.

For this year, CeMAP is confident it will be able to maintain the growth it posted in 2016.

“The cement manufacturers are well poised to and prepared to address the the anticipated public and private infrastructure spending due to the bright economic prospects for 2017,” Ordonez said.