Resolving difficulties to boost production and sale of cement, iron and steel, and construction materials

Overview of the meeting at Bac Ninh’s venue.

Co-chairing the meeting were Mr. Le Minh Khai, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Deputy PM; Mr. Tran Hong Ha, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy PM.

Attending the meeting at Bac Ninh’s venue were Mrs. Tran Thi Hang, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Council; leaders of departments, branches, sectors and localities.

With the Government's policies coupled with the involvement of sectors, localities, and enterprises; the cement, iron and steel, and construction material industry have seen remarkable development over the last 10 years. In line with this cement has been invested with around USD 20 billion to reach a total output of 122 million tones annually, thereby making it among the world’s leading cement producers.

The steel industry enjoyed a high growth rate of 14.25% on average during the 2011 to 2022 period, with steel output in 2022 increasing five times compared to the figure from 2011. Especially in the 2016 to 2022 period, the steel industry achieved a very high growth rate with an average of 27.11% per year. However, in recent years due to the impact of many unfavorable factors at home and abroad along with a stagnant real estate market; the production of cement, iron and steel, and construction materials has declined.

Total production output of cement and clinker last year reached a mere 92.9 million tones, with this output only serving to meet 75% of the total design capacity, while total consumption hit 87.8 million tones, equal to 88% compared to 2022. Construction steel production stood at 10,655 million tones, down 12.2% on-year and consumption reached 10,905 million tones, down 11.2% compared to 2022.

Concluding the meeting, PM Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the opinions contributed to remove difficulties and promote the production and consumption of cement, iron and steel, and construction materials.

In order for the sector to develop sustainably, promote efficiency, and make important contributions to socio-economic development, Chinh said it is essential to effectively implement the national construction materials development strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and the master plan on exploration, exploitation, processing, and use of mineral resources for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, together with speeding up the pace of public investment and infrastructure projects, including the scheme on building one million social housing apartments.

Speaking at Bac Ninh’s venue, Mrs. Tran Thi Hang requested that departments, branches and localities would seriously absorb all the instructions of PM Pham Minh Chinh at the meeting. At the same time, they need to focus on reviewing and synthesizing businesses’ problems and limitations in implementing mechanisms and policies to support the production and consumption of cement, iron and steel, and construction materials in the province.