By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-10-01 08:27:03 | Updated at 2026-10-01 11:06:11
3 hours ago
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ECONOMY · COLOMBIA
Key Facts
- —The country Colombia, where monthly cement sales are a standard gauge of building activity. DANE, the national statistics agency, collects the figures from every cement producer.
- —What happened On Wednesday (30 September), DANE reported domestic cement dispatches of 1.13 million tonnes for August 2026, up 2.9% on August 2025.
- —The numbers Production fell 1.9% year on year in August, to 1.23 million tonnes, after a 4.5% drop in July. January–August dispatches rose 4.1% (DANE, 30 September).
- —What it means for you Demand for building materials recovered after a weak July, led by sales through distributors and hardware stores. Bulk deliveries to builders and contractors remain down this year.
- —Still open All 2026 figures are provisional. DANE says it imputed part of August production after late reports, and September data will show whether the rebound holds.
Colombia cement sales picked up again in August after a rare monthly fall in July. Domestic dispatches rose 2.9% on a year earlier, to 1.13 million tonnes.
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Production moved the other way, slipping 1.9% to 1.23 million tonnes. DANE, the national statistics agency, published both figures on Wednesday (30 September).
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Colombia Cement Sales Recovered, Production Did Not
Dispatches measure cement delivered to buyers inside Colombia, so they are the closer gauge of building demand. Production also includes cement made for export and cement added to stocks.
July had been the first month of 2026 in which both measures fell. Dispatches dropped 3.8% that month and production 4.5%, according to DANE.
Part of August’s production decline is a matter of comparison. In August 2025, production had grown 4.9%, which set a high base for this year.
Over the first eight months of 2026, the Colombia cement picture is steadier. Dispatches reached 8.69 million tonnes, up 4.1%, while production rose 2.1% to 9.33 million tonnes.
Distributors and the Caribbean Coast Led
DANE attributes most of August’s gain to the distribution channel, meaning hardware stores and wholesalers. Sales through that channel rose 3.7% and added 2.2 percentage points to the total.
Bulk cement sold to ready-mix concrete companies grew 10.5%. Those firms supply larger projects, from apartment blocks to road works.
By region, the strongest growth came from the Caribbean coast. Deliveries to Bolívar rose 25.1% and to Atlántico 15.5%, together adding 2.0 points to national growth.
Builders and Bogotá Remain the Weak Spot
The year-to-date data show where Colombia cement demand is still soft. Bulk deliveries to builders and contractors fell 14.3% between January and August, DANE said.
Bulk shipments to the greater Bogotá area, which includes Soacha, Funza, Chía and Mosquera, were down 10.3% over the same period. That matches a long squeeze on homebuilding, covered in Colombia Has Lost 425 Homebuilders in Four Years.
Bagged cement, typically used for smaller works, grew 6.1% in the eight months. Smaller buyers, rather than large developers, have carried the market this year.
Financing costs may matter for what comes next. On the same Wednesday, the central bank (BanRep) raised its policy rate to 12.25%. Market reaction: Colombia Markets: COLCAP Slips 0.38% as BanRep Surprises With 12.25% Hike.
Higher rates usually weigh on mortgages and construction loans. The political debate over housing support is outlined in Colombia’s Housing Slump Is the Next Government’s First Test.
What Is Not Yet Known
All 2026 figures are provisional and can be revised for two years. DANE also noted that it adjusted August production after late reports and imputed data where producers did not report.
It is not yet clear whether August marks a return to growth or a one-month rebound after July. DANE’s September release will be the next test.
Sources: DANE, Estadísticas de Cemento Gris (ECG), August 2026: release page, technical bulletin and statistical annex, published 30 September 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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