According to local news sources, sales of cement for companies in Saudi Arabia rose by 4% y/y to 55.6 million t in 2013, compared to 53.5 million t in 2012, despite poor sales in November and December.
A report, based on data released by Yamamah Cement Company (YCC), noted that sales saw a 6% decrease in December 2013 to 4.79 million t, compared to 5.08 million t in December 2012. Jouf Cement Company (JCC) and Riyadh Cement Company (RCC) reported a 37% and 30% drop in sales, respectively, during December 2013. All cement manufacturers in the country were affected by the fall in sales, with the exception of Madinah Cement Company (MCC), Arabian Cement Company (ACC), Northern Province Cement Company (NPCC) and Safwa Cement Company (SCC). Sales for these producers increased by 40%, 37%, 22% and 16%, respectively.
Despite this, clinker production of all cement producers increased by 14.7% to 4.89 million t in December 2013, compared to 4.26 million t in December 2012.
In November 2013, sales of cement dropped by 17% to 3.65 million t from 4.37 million t in November 2012, due to the expiration of the government amnesty period on migrant workers.
Zamil Al-Miqrin, Head of the National Committee for Cement Companies, told local press that an improvement in prices was expected in early 2014.
Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling