Cement consumption has reduced by 6.2 million tonnes for the first time in 17 years because of low demand, the Economic Survey Report 2018 released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) says.
In 2000, cement consumption decreased from 1.111 million tonnes in 1999 to 1.067 million. This was the last time such a decline was reported until now.
According to the report, 6.7 million tonnes of cement were consumed in 2016 and the consumption declined by 8.2 percent in 2017.
The report says the decline was blamed on the decreased growth in the construction sector in 2017.
KNBS Director General Zachary Mwangi stated during a presentation of 2017’s economic growth: “The sector revealed a slower growth of 8.6% in 2017 compared to a 9.8% growth in 2016. Cement consumption decreased by 8.2% in 2017.”
Furthermore, the use of galvanised sheets in construction declined slightly by 2.2 percent to stand at 262,800 tonnes from 268,700 tonnes in 2016.
