The ministry said plans and programmes for development of building materials have ensured the balance between supply and local market demand.

The total consumption of cement and clinker, two key building material products, grew 6 percent to 59.27 million tonnes in the first nine months of this year.

Consumption in the domestic market was estimated at 45.28 million tonnes, 4 percent higher than the same period last year, including 18.9 million tonnes sold by the Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation.

The cement industry also exported about 13.99 million tonnes, nearly completing the milestone annual export target of 14-15 million tonnes, despite fierce competition from

Thailand and China and disadvantages in tax rate and export prices. 

During the first nine months, Vietnam produced 141 million sq.m of building glass products, or 96 percent of the total volume in the same period of last year.

The ceramic tile volume also reached 416 million sq.m, 4 percent over the same period last year, and sanitary ware production reached 9.9 million units, a year-on-year growth of 4 percent.