Cement production in Vietnam will be able to meet local demand next year even as competition pressure from imported products eases, a government official has forecast.

Total consumption for next year is estimated at 54.5-56 million tons, which can be met by local producers, Deputy Construction Minister Nguyen Thanh Nam said.

He said imported cement products are not really competitive in Vietnam due to high transportation costs.

In general the cement market will be stable next year, he said, adding that his ministry has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to make sure cement companies have enough coal for production.

According to the Construction Ministry, the country’s cement output and consumption were both recorded at 40.4 million tons in the ten months through October.

The industry is expected to produce a total of 49.5-50 million tons, meeting the demand forecast for this year.