Cement prices rise in China

BEIJING - China's cement prices have risen for three consecutive weeks thanks to government spending on infrastructure and renovations, according to the China Cement Association website.

Last week, cement prices rose 0.5 percent compared to a week ago, and the margin expanded from the previous two weeks.

As the economy slows, the government has tried to stabilize growth through slum renovation and infrastructure construction, raising demand for construction materials, including cement.

Railway investment rose 13.6 percent year-on-year in the first two months and investment in roads by 28.8 percent, figures from the Ministry of Transport showed.

The central government will spend 116 billion yuan ($19 billion) to slum renovation and building subsidized housing this year, up 14.3 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Finance.

A report from the Guotai Jun'an Securities said cement sales and prices are expected to increase further in the second quarter.

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