HA NOI — The consumption of building materials in the first quarter of this year decreased by 20-30 percent over the same period last year.

Cement sales during the three-month period was 10.94 million tonnes, only 19.54 percent of the annual plan.

Many cement producers adjusted their operations to keep inventory rates at 5.5 percent in March, lower than the normal rate of 10 percent.

Building glass sales also fell 40 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the vice chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Building Materials, Nguyen Quang Cung. The use of other building materials dropped between 60-75 percent, Cung said. — VNS