Cement sales in the first six months increased 6.18 percent to 10.13 million metric tons from 9.54 million MT in 2012, the Cement Manufacturer's Association of the Philippines said.
The group attributed the healthy performance to the country s improving construction business and to the government's ongoing infrastructure program.
Meanwhile, the group reported that the industry imported 12 MT of clinker for Portland cement production during the first semester.
Total output in 2012 was 18.35 million MT of cement, 17.5 percent higher than the 2011 output.
For 2013, cement companies expect a 16.6 percent increase in capacity utilization due to good prospects in the construction sector.
The cement industry noted that the rosy outlook of the construction and real sector would trickle down to the cement industry.
Earlier, the industry announced it reduced prices by an average of P5 per bag after two years without price adjustment.
With increase in output, the industry might be enforcing further price reduction in the coming months.
