China's building materials sector regained steam in the first half, with real estate investment picking up speed, according to the latest data from the country's top economic planner.
Cement output rose 9.7 percent year on year to 1.1 billion tonnes in the first half, compared with 5.5 percent recorded in the same period of 2012, according to data issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
The output of flat glass grew 10.8 percent year on year to 389.9 million weight boxes in the first six months, compared to a 3.1-percent decline in the first half of 2012, according to NDRC data.
A major consumer of cement and flat glass, the property sector rebounded with mounting investment in the April-June period, according to a report published by the Ministry of Land and Resources on Sunday.
Prices for cement and flat glass headed in different directions in June. The factory price of cement slid 1.1 percent from May to an average of 339 yuan (54.9 U.S. dollars) per tonne at major building material manufacturers. The wholesale price of flat glass rebounded 2.2 percent from May to 63.8 yuan per weight box.
The combined profits of the building materials industry rose 19.9 percent year on year to 132.15 billion yuan in the first five months, compared with a 9.7-percent decline recorded in the same period of 2012.
Source: Xinhua
