By Assil bin Talib
Riyadh-Mubasher: Some Saudi cement companies lost more customers and market shares due to export ban, said Ahmed Zugail, general manager of Yanbu Cement.
“We will exert more efforts to retrieve these market shares,” Zugail told Mubasher by phone.
He expected the Saudi government to lift ban on cement export to best serve the national economy, companies and shareholders.
The government pays more attention to industries, especially cement, Zugail said, adding that the high stockpile of cement that represents production of six months is harmful to the industry.
“The time has come to lift the ban, and cement companies will seek to secure the local markets, stabilise prices and fulfill the market's requirements,” the general manager said.
He added that if the current situation continues, several companies will face challenges that will lead them to stop ovens and production lines, in addition to laying off employees.
Turki Al Toaimi, spokesman of the ministry of commerce, earlier said the government does not ban cement export, but companies should comply with certain regulations in this regard.
The ministry set some conditions for the export; the adequacy of supply in the domestic market, abundant inventory of clinker and cement and not raising prices for consumers.
Translated by Abdul Maguid Aboshahla
