August was a good month for cement sales in Indonesia, with 33% growth y/y. The Indonesian Cement Association (ASI) has reported sales of 4.66 million t in August 2014 compared to 3.5 million t in August 2013. This followed a slow month in July, when sales were held back by fewer working days and the presidential elections.
Growth for the whole year is predicted at around 5%, which is more or less on par with 2013 when cement sales grew by 5.5%. Total sales volumes are expected to reach 61 million t from 58 million t last year. Volumes grew just 2.45% in the January – August period, so this target is only achievable if growth continues apace in the final four months of the year.
Semen Indonesia, the state-owned cement company that holds a 44.6% share of the market, began operations at its new packing plant in Mamuju, West Sulawesi. The US$5.76 million plant began construction in October 2013 and has a capacity of 450 000 tpa.
Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui
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