Riyadh-Mubasher: Cement sales in Saudi Arabia increased to 5.74 million tonnes in January 2016, a rise of 5.9% compared with 5.4 million tonnes in the same month of 2015.
Production also increased 3.6% to 5.74 million tonnes, compared with 5.44 million tonnes in January 2015.
Inventories fell 11.5% year-on-year from 991,000 tonnes to 877,000.
However, five companies witnessed a decline in their production, led by Najran Cement whose production and sales dropped by 16.3% and 11.2%, respectively. Arabian Cement's production and sales fell by 7.1% and 3.8% in a row.
Saudi Cement earlier said its board decided to stop production at kiln 6 due to the current market conditions and continued cement ban.
Saudi Cement's sales declined by 5.2% to 696,000 tonnes in January, compared with 735,000 tonnes in the same month of 2015. In addition, the company's production rose by 0.5% year-on-year from 733,000 tonnes to 737,000, and its inventories grew 1.1% year-on-year from 189,000 tonnes to 191,000.
Translated by Abdul Maguid Aboshahla
