China's cement output in the first half of the year hit a record high for a six-month period, up 20.9 percent from the same period last year to 540 million tons, the Xinhua-run China Securities Journal reported Friday.

The newspaper also quoted statistics from the China Cement Association, saying the output had exceeded 100 million tons each month from April to June.

An increasing number of construction projects in the country increased. Statistics show that China's total investment in roads, factory equipment and other fixed assets soared 29.8 percent in the first half of the year, an increase of 4.4 percentage points from the same period of last year.

Eight of China's 4,982 cement producers saw their output exceed 2million tons, and their total output grew 45.7 percent to 28.74 million tons.

47 companies whose half-year output was between 1 and 2 million tons totaled 79.43 million tons, up 40.2 percent.

Economists worry the government's policy of curbing soaring fixed asset investment will cause a decline in demand and overcapacity in the industry.

In April, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with seven other government departments issued a circular urging local governments to restructure the cement plants that plagued by overcapacity and pollution problems.

The commission said in a report on April 24 that it will speed up the elimination of cement production plant that are small and use outdated technology.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2006)