Vietnam's cement sales forecast to increase 2-3% in 2025

Vietnam’s cement sales in 2025 are expected to inch up 2-3% year-on-year to around 95-100 million tons, said Luong Duc Long, vice chairman of the Vietnam Cement Association (VCA).

Of the figure, 60-65 million tons will serve domestic consumption and 30-35 million be for exports, the government's news portal quoted Long as saying.

With the government’s strong push for public investment, especially in transportation infrastructure, there are positive signals for cement production and consumption. However, the cement consumption growth will be more evident in the latter half of 2025, he noted.

Cement demand in Vietnam is projected to hit its peak by 2031. Therefore, cement production and consumption still have significant room for growth, according to Long.

He noted that the cement industry is operating in line with market economy rules. Newer plants benefit from modern technology, large capacities, and energy-saving production solutions which enable them to produce at a lower cost, thus gaining a competitive edge over those established decades ago.

"Now is the time for 'filtering out' outdated production lines, providing an opportunity to promote the development of a more modern and advanced cement industry," he stressed.

The VCA leader proposed the government eliminate the export tax on clinker.

Cement consumption is forecast to see a strong recovery, thanks to accelerated public transportation infrastructure projects. Additionally, there have been proposals on building elevated bridges instead of traditional roadbeds, as the sand supply in the southern region is yet to show signs of recovery.

The Ministry of Construction has also proposed export tax reductions for cement enterprises, and the Prime Minister has requested the Ministry of Finance to consider this proposal.

"Once realized, these proposals could have a positive impact on cement consumption in 2025," Long added.

According to the Cement Industry Report, the Vietnamese cement industry exported more than 29.94 million tons of cement and clinker in 2024, earning over $1.15 billion, down over 4% in volume and nearly 14% in value compared to 2023.

Clinker and cement exports to the Philippines market decreased by about 0.6% in volume and about 11% in value year-on-year, while the price dropped 10.5%.

The Philippines was the largest export market of Vietnam, accounting for 27% (8 million tons) of the country's total export volume and 28% ($319.09 million) of the total export value. The average price was $39.9 a ton.

Clinker and cement exported to Bangladesh, the second largest market, reached 5.49 million tons, earning $175.13 million. The average price was $31.9 per ton. Exports to Bangladesh made up 18.5% of total volume and 15.4% of total turnover.

The Malaysian market accounted for 5.7% of total volume and 5% of total earnings. The respective figures were 1.68 million tons, $57.19 million, and $34 per ton.

Vietnam's clinker and cement exports are forecast to grow slowly and may remain at the same level as in 2024, according to the report. Export markets are gradually shifting to new markets such as the U.S., North America, South America, and Africa.