{
  "id": 11138211,
  "title": "Colombia Cement Sales Rose 2.9% in August While Production Slipped 1.9%",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/colombia-cement-sales-rose-2-9-in-august-while-production-slipped-1-9",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-01T07:24:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/colombia-cement-dispatches-rise-29-percent-august-2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Colombia, cement sales increased by 2.9% in August compared to the same month last year, reaching 1.13 million tonnes. However, production fell by 1.9% to 1.23 million tonnes, according to the national statistics agency DANE. The figures were released on September 30th, 2026. Dispatches, which measure cement delivered to buyers within Colombia, are considered a better indicator of building demand. Production, on the other hand, includes cement intended for export and stockpiled cement. July marked the first month in 2026 where both measures declined, with dispatches dropping 3.8% and production falling 4.5%. Part of the production decline in August can be attributed to the comparison with the high base set in August 2025, when production grew by 4.9%. Throughout the first eight months of 2026, dispatches increased by 4.1% to 8.69 million tonnes, while production rose by 2.1% to 9.33 million tonnes. The increase in August is mainly attributed to the distribution channel, such as hardware stores and wholesalers, where sales rose by 3.7%. Bulk cement sold to ready-mix concrete companies grew by 10.5%. Among regions, the Caribbean coast experienced the strongest growth, with deliveries to Bolivar rising by 25.1% and Atlantico increasing by 15.5%, contributing 2.0 percentage points to the national growth. However, year-to-date data indicate that demand for bulk cement from builders and contractors has remained weak, with deliveries down by 14.3% between January and August. The decline in bulk shipments to the greater Bogota area, including nearby municipalities, also mirrors the long-standing housing shortage in Colombia. Bagged cement, typically used for smaller projects, grew by 6.1% in the eight months. Smaller buyers, rather than large developers, have been driving the market this year. The central bank's decision to raise interest rates to 12.25% on the same day may have an impact on future construction costs.",
  "summary": "Colombia cement dispatches rose 2.9% in August after July's dip, DANE data show, while production slipped 1.9%. Distributors and the Caribbean coast led. The post Colombia Cement Sales Rose 2.9% in August While Production Slipped 1.9% appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}