VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s construction materials industry will triple the value of its output, according to a new plan put forward by the Ministry of Construction.

Workers make enamel tiles at a Viet Tri CMC Joint-Stock Company plant in the northern province of Phu Tho.

The plan, submitted to the Government for approval, forecasts that the nation’s rapid urbanisation will result in soaring demand for construction materials.

Specifically, there will be significantly more demand for cement (3.45 times higher), tiles (2.3 times higher), porcelain (2.6 times higher), construction glass (2.5 times higher) and sand (2.6 times higher).

Urban areas will grow 45 per cent by 2020, forcing demand for construction materials to rise, the ministry explained.

However, as construction material firms rush to meet higher demand, they will also be pressured to supply products of satisfactory quality, the plan says.

The ministry spotlights the industry’s two big weaknesses: quality and environmental friendliness.

Despite the industry having focused on updating its production techniques, outdated machinery remains in use on many production lines, a survey for the ministry’s Department for Construction Materials Management found. For example, 15.5 of cement and 50 per cent of bricks are still produced manually.

The ministry identifies four regions that specialise in cement, tile, glass and porcelain production.

The cement region includes Hong (Red) River Delta provinces such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Ha Tay and Ninh Binh, and northern central region provinces.

Tiles are produced in Hanoi, HCM City, the Hong (Red) River Delta provinces of Vinh Phuc and Thai Binh, and the provinces of Dong Nai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong in the south.

Construction glass is mainly produced in the northern Bac Ninh Province and the southern provinces of Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong. Porcelain production takes place in Hanoi, Thai Binh, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and HCM City.

For the plan’s targets to be met, a comprehensive set of measures need to be taken. First, macroeconomic policies must provide better support for the development of construction material firms. Second, the search for natural mineral resources, especially those that are used in cement, porcelain and glass production, must be stepped up.

Modern technology for construction material production must also be used and the training of qualified industry professionals needs to be improved.

(Source: Viet Nam News)