Large quantities of cement are to be rushed to regions such as Makkah and Madina over the next few days. The move comes as cement factories and companies are working hard to increase cement supplies amid reports of shortages. It follows a warning by economists that cement factories cannot cope with the cement demand created by the mega projects announced in the 2012 budget. These projects include the construction of bridges, a sports city and 500,000 housing units throughout the Kingdom. A source at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said: “We will need more production of cement by cement factories and companies to meet the increase in demand due to these projects and other construction works within cities and governorates.” Economists are now urging companies to consider the expansions of their factories in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Saudi Aramco. __
