Saudi cement demand said to rise 10% in 2019

Cement demand in Saudi Arabia is expected to increase by nearly 10 percent this year, Zawya Projects reported, citing a report in Al-Madina newspaper.

The pick-up in demand will be supported by new government agreements with developers for the construction of houses across the Kingdom and the budget allocation of SAR 245 billion for capital spending, Abdullah Ridwan, deputy chairman of the contractors' committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the daily.

Saudi cement companies exported around 4.2 million tons last year following the partial lifting of the ban, he said, adding lower demand dented cement production by almost 11 percent to 42.1 million tons last year from around 47.1 million tons in 2017.