Vietnam could rake in 1 billion USD from exporting 20-21 million tonnes of cement and clinker in 2014, up 15 percent in value compared to last year, according to the Vietnam Cement Association.

Preliminary statistics from the Customs General Department showed that the shipment of cement and clinker increased in both volume and value in January-October, reaching nearly 18 million tonnes.

Major cement companies have reported positive results over the past time, with stable export volumes and many new markets.

Tran Viet Thang, Director General of the Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (Vicem), which holds 34 percent of the sector’s output, said his company exported about 1.8 million tonnes of the products in the first three quarters of 2014 and plans to sell 1 million tonne in the last three months to raise its total exports to 3 million tonnes, meeting the yearly target set early this year.

Last month, the Thang Long Cement JSC shipped 4,000 tonnes of cement to the Philippines . The expansion of export markets is an important factor for the company to record positive growth, said Director General Mukhamad Saifudin.

He added that his company will improve supply services to satisfy customers and upgrade the seaport system to accommodate heavy-loaded ships while further boosting domestic trade and exports.

Meanwhile, the Vissai Cement Group also won two more contracts to export 1 million tonnes per year to its new partners in France and Australia .

In the ten month period, Indonesia was Vietnam ’s largest importer of cement and clinker with 90 million USD, followed by Malaysia , Bangladesh , Taiwan , the Philippines and Cambodia .

The prices of cement and clinker stand at 55.2-55 USD and 38.2-39 USD per tonne, respectively.

By the end of 2014, the total designed capacity of the cement factories nationwide will reach 85 million tonnes annually.-VNA