China's building materials sector regained steam in the first half of 2013, with real estate investment picking up speed, according to the latest data from the country's top economic planner. Cement output rose 9.7% year on year to 1.1BN/tonnes, compared with 5.5% 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% year on year to 389.9M/weight boxes in the first six months, compared to a 3.1% 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 recently. Prices for cement and flat glass headed in different directions in June. The factory price of cement slid 1.1% from May to an average of 339 yuan (US$54.9) per tonne at major building material manufacturers. The wholesale price of flat glass rebounded 2.2% from May to 63.8 yuan per weight box. Stocks of flat glass increased 8% year on year to 44.28M/weight boxes, compared with 26.1% at the end of June 2012, according to NDRC data. The data showed that the combined profits of the building materials industry rose 19.9% year on year to 132.15BN/yuan in the first five months, compared with a 9.7% decline recorded in the same period 2012.
