en.Wedoany.com Reported - According to the latest data released by the National Union of the Cement Industry of Brazil (SNIC), cement sales in Brazil reached 6.2 million tons in July this year, an increase of 2.5% compared to the same period last year. Cumulative sales for the year totaled 39 million tons, up 2.3% year-on-year.

In terms of regional performance, the North and Northeast regions saw more pronounced growth, while sales in other regions remained largely stable. The South region was hampered by heavy rainfall.

SNIC attributes the main factors supporting cement demand to the unemployment rate falling to 5.4% and employment reaching a record 103.1 million people. At the same time, high household debt levels and a record 83.7 million Brazilians in default status have constrained consumption.

In the construction sector, confidence among residential building companies has rebounded somewhat, but the contraction trend in the building materials market continues. SNIC also stated that the cement industry is advancing its decarbonization strategy through the "Roadmap Net Zero," in which nature-based solutions are regarded by the industry as an important pathway to offset carbon emissions, and are considered more cost-effective than carbon capture technologies.

SNIC noted that despite resilience on the sales front, high interest rates, inflation, labor shortages, and uncertainties in the international landscape remain the main challenges facing the industry.