Cement sales in August were 13.5% lower than recorded in July. Specifically, 4,049.7 tons of cement were sold last month. Compared to August 2021, the decrease is even greater, in this case 25%, with about 1,300 tons less.
The figure recorded last month is the third lowest in the last four years. Only September 2019, with 3,753.3 tons, and January of this year, with 4,027.1 tons, are behind.
This data follows the downward trend that has been occurring since July 2021, when a peak of 7,348 tons was reached. Except for small rebounds, since then cement consumption has been declining, reaching last month one of the lowest figures in recent years.
It was during the first year of the pandemic when records soared, increasing the monthly variation rate by more than 72% in May 2020. That year began the growth of imports of the material, from 4,123.5 tons in April 2020 to 7,121.4 tons the following month.
As for the accumulated so far this year, up to August total 35,978 tons, also being the lowest figure in the last four years. In the same period, in 2021, 51,645.3 tons had been sold, in 2020 it was 49,126.6 and in 2019, 49,066.8.
To find an August with such low figures, we must go back to 2018, when 4,283 tons were sold. In the following ones, 5,000 tons had always been exceeded (5,399 in August 2021, 7,812 in 2020 and 5,066 in 2019).
