How to buy cement on credit for a construction project

DANE figures show how construction in Colombia buys cement in 2026. Cement sold through supply stores, hardware stores and wholesalers is growing (the retail channel rose 7.2% between January and August), while direct purchases from cement plants are falling. When cement arrives through a distributor, that distributor sets the payment terms.

Which type of cement to order

In Colombia, hydraulic cements are classified by performance under technical standard NTC 121. The type is set by the structural design or the project specification. These are the types you will see most often in manufacturers’ data sheets:

One product can meet several types. Holcim, for example, offers an industrial cement that meets ART, MCH and ARS at once. When you compare quotes, compare products with the same designation and ask for the data sheet with the offer.

Bagged or bulk

DANE distinguishes two forms of dispatch. Bagged cement travels in paper sacks with two or three layers. Bulk cement travels in tanker trucks and is stored in silos. The choice depends on the project’s volume and whether you can receive it on site.

• Bags. Suit sites without a silo and masonry, plastering and repair work. Check the bag weight before comparing prices: Holcim sells the same general-use cement in 50 kg and 42.5 kg bags.
• Bulk. Requires a silo on site and steady consumption. It is the usual form for ready-mix plants and projects with their own batching plant.
• Ready-mix concrete. If concrete arrives mixed from a plant, the cement is already in it and you buy cubic meters of concrete.

When cement is bought at each stage

1. Foundations. The first purchasing peak. Concrete for footings, grade beams or piles. It is usually paid with own capital, before pre-sales funds or the construction loan arrive.
2. Structure. The highest and steadiest consumption. Columns, beams and slabs are poured floor by floor, and cement or concrete is ordered in short cycles.
3. Masonry. Cement goes into mortar for brick and block. It is bought in bags and in smaller quantities per order.
4. Plastering and finishes. Leveling mortar, floors and repairs. Small, frequent orders until handover.

The exact amount of cement per cubic meter depends on the project’s mix design. Take it from the structural engineer’s specifications or from the concrete supplier. With that figure, split the purchase by stage and ask for partial deliveries as work advances so you do not store more than you need on site.

Upfront or on credit with Parex

With Parex you can buy cement upfront from your first order or with a revolving credit line on 30, 60 or 90-day terms. The supplier gets paid on delivery and you repay Parex on the agreed terms, with one line for several suppliers.

1. Build the list in the quoter. Enter the cement with its presentation and the quantity. For example: grey cement 50 kg, 100 bags. You do not need an account to build the list. You see prices when you create your account.
2. Choose how to pay. Upfront, or on 30, 60 or 90-day terms if you already have a credit line.
3. Send your company documents if you want to buy on credit. We give you a decision within 48 hours of receiving the complete set.
4. Receive on site. The supplier delivers and gets paid that day. You repay Parex on the terms you chose, and the available amount is released for the next order.

What to check when cement arrives

• Type and standard printed on the bag or on the bulk delivery note. They must match what the design requires.
• Bag weight and number of bags against the delivery note.
• Condition of the bags. Torn or damp bags are noted on the delivery note before you sign.
• Product data sheet filed with the purchase order for the site inspector.

Cement costs move too. In August 2026 cement was among the inputs that pulled the monthly building construction cost index down the most, according to DANE. Buying on terms lets you take advantage of a good price without draining the project’s cash.

Parex serves projects in Bogotá, Medellín, the Coffee Region, Barranquilla and Cartagena. To compare materials credit with other ways to finance a project, read how to finance the materials for a project.

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