KSA cement sales jump 21pc in Q2

RIYADH, Aug 10 (Arab News): Saudi Arabia's cement sector registered a sharp upswing in the second quarter of the year, with total sales by the Kingdom's 17 producers reaching 13.13 million tonnes.

According to figures by Riyadh-based Al-Yamama Cement, this marks a 21 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

The rise was driven almost entirely by local demand, which accounted for 97 per cent of all dispatches and increased by 23 per cent year on year. Export volumes decreased by 16 per cent, accounting for only 3 per cent of total cement sales during the quarter.

"Key drivers based on our market analysis are, first, the megaprojects activation: progress in Neom, ROSHN, Diriyah, and The Line translated into large batch cement drawdowns, particularly in Tabuk, Riyadh, and Eastern regions," said Amr Nader, cement expert and CEO of UAE-based advisory firm A³&Co.