China Cement Output Falls 9.0% in First Eight Months of 2026

In the first eight months of 2026, national cement output fell 9.0% year on year, with the decline widening to 11.7% in August alone.

On the demand side, seasonal factors including high temperatures, heavy rain and typhoons in August slowed construction progress on projects under way in many regions, leaving overall cement demand weak. In early September 2026, as high temperatures in southern China subsided and outdoor construction conditions gradually improved, cement demand showed signs of marginal recovery, though the year-on-year improvement remained limited.

On the supply side, regions continued to advance staggered production, but with demand persistently weak, supply pressure and high inventory levels in the cement industry were not fundamentally alleviated, and the effect of short-term self-disciplined output cuts was relatively limited.

On prices, with coal and other raw material prices remaining high, cement prices in many regions showed signs of increases over the past two weeks as companies sought to ease profit pressure. As end-user demand remains weak, cost-driven price increases lack sustainability.