Japanese cement consumption back to normal

Japan: The Japan Cement Association (JCA) has reported that cement demand has resumed its pre-coronavirus outbreak levels, with all planned construction projects from mid-May 2020 going ahead. R&I News has reported that this follows the suspension of multiple major works during the crisis, leading to a domestic demand of 3.19Mt in April 2020, down by 7% year-on-year from 3.43Mt in April 2019. Although the JCA’s 2020 cement consumption forecast is 41.0Mt, the lowest since 1990, contractors will reportedly have a backlog of projects “even after the completion of projects related to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics,” suggesting the likelihood of a considerable rise in demand year-on-year in 2021, set against a moderate decrease in the medium to long term.