Cement consumption up year-on-year   Cement production at Song Thao Cement Joint Stock Company in the northern province of Phu Tho. Cement consumption has reached 52.11 million tonnes so far this year. — Photo VNA/VNS Vu Sinh HA NOI - The total consumption of cement till September 2015 rose 3 per cent against the same period of last year to 52.11 million tonnes, according to the Ministry of Construction. The ministry's Building Material Department said that of these, 40.26 million tonnes of cement were sold on the domestic market, a year-on-year surge of 8 per cent while the export volume of cement reached 11.85 million tonnes, a 12 per cent lower than the same period of last year. However, total consumption of cement in September was down 9 per cent to 5.37 million tonnes, including 4.27 million tonnes for the domestic market, 11 per cent lower than last month, chinhphu.vn reported. Experts in building materials said the reduction in total consumption volume of cement in September was due to the impact of the rains and the "ghost month" when people often avoid starting construction projects. They expect cement consumption on the domestic market to be better by the year-end when the construction season begins. However, the cement industry would find it difficult to export cement by the year-end because some cement exporters in the region would increase their volumes to between 5 and 6 million tonnes. Le Van Toi, head of the Building Material Department said the enterprises should promote domestic consumption of cement and then improve competitive ability of cement products for exports. Nguyen Quang Cung, chairman of the Viet Nam Cement Association, said cement factories located near seaports with high capacity and high technology accorded priority to exports, the Cong thuong newspaper reported. Tran Thanh Hai, deputy head of the Import Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the department would co-operate closely with the building material department to maintain a balance between supply and demand, and assess the ability of cement enterprises when joining the world market to ensure reasonable solutions in production and business for local cement enterprises. — VNS