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BEIJING, Apr. 2 -- China's cement exports in 2008 decreased by 12.91 percent year-on-year to 13.23 million tons due to the slack real estate market worldwide, according to statistics revealed at the 2009 China International Cement Conference. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exports of clinker also decreased by 28.11 percent to 12.8 million tons. "Appreciation of the renminbi was also a reason for the decrease," said Lei Qianzhi, chairman of China Cement Association.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In 2008, cement output in China increased by 3 percent to 1.39 billion tons. During the first 11 months of last year, the industry realized a gross profit of 26.14 billion yuan ($3.83 billion), a 30.8 percent increase over the previous year. The annual profit is estimated to exceed 28 billion yuan in 2008, according to Ou Xinqian, vice-minister of industry and information technology.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The 18 cement enterprises produced 331.75 million tons of clinker last year, accounting for 37 percent of the total.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; However, annual output of the 4,566 cement enterprises, or 90.8 percent of the total cement producers in China, was less than 600,000 tons each.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We advocate mergers and acquisitions among Chinese cement enterprises to optimize the industrial pattern," said Ou.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Industry insiders are optimistic about China's cement industry in 2009.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Based on my experience, as long as growth of China's GDP is above 7 percent, demand for cement will grow positively," said Lei. The GDP growth set by the central government is 8 percent for the year.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; China announced a 4-trillion-yuan stimulus package last year and infrastructure construction is a major investment target, which is expected to spur demand for cement.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Transportation construction, including the airport, railways and expressways, will create a cement demand totaling 300 million tons this year, said analysts Hong Liang and Hao Feifei with China Galaxy Securities.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Besides, post-earthquake construction in Sichuan province from 2009 to 2010 will also need 100 million tons of cement.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
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