China’s cement consumption may increase 6.3 per cent to 1.54bn tons in 2009, according to Guo Wenlong, a researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission.

Guo said demand would be driven by the transportation, logistics and warehousing sectors, set to consume some 180m tons of cement in 2009, 27 per cent more than last year.

This increase in consumption, much of which can be attributed to the central government’s Rmb4,000bn stimulus package, is likely to compensate for shrinking demand in the depressed property sector, said Guo.

Last year, China produced 1.38bn tons of cement, up 5.2 per cent from a year earlier, and consumed 1.45bn tons, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.