Saudi cement sales rise 4% in January: Aljazira Cap

Cement and clinker sales in Saudi Arabia rose 3.5 percent to 4.23 million tons in January 2019, compared to 4.08 million tons in the previous year, driven by growing exports, Aljazira Capital said in a report on Wednesday.

Clinker inventories stood at 42.33 million tons last month, while sales/clinker production ratio stood at 108 percent. However, total utilization rate of the cement sector declined to 53.6 percent year-on-year (YoY) compared to 61.4 percent in January 2018.

Yamama Cement and Southern Cement recorded the highest YoY increase in dispatches of 33 percent and 27 percent, respectively, the report said. On the other hand, Northern Cement showed the steepest decline of 46.7 percent YoY.

Al Jouf Cement and Najran Cement showed the highest sales/clinker production ratio of 221.3 percent and 213.6 percent, respectively.

Northern Cement and Riyadh Cement reported a decline in the inventory level by 39.8 percent YoY and 22.7 percent YoY, respectively.

According to Aljazira Capital, Southern Cement recorded the highest market share of 14.5 percent while Tabuk Cement reported the lowest market share of 2.1 percent.

Southern Cement recorded the highest market share of 15 percent on the Trailing Twelve Months (TMM) basis, the consultancy noted.