Cement and clinker sales in Saudi Arabia, including exports in April, stood at 3.91 million tons, reporting an increase of 16.5 percent year-on-year, NBC Capital said in its monthly report on the Kingdom's cement sector. However, sales decreased by 7.8 percent month-on-month compared to 4.24 million tons in March, the report noted. Cement exports stood at 105,000 tons in April this year, up 47.9 percent year-on-year. However, on a month-on-month basis, cement exports declined 1.9 percent from 107,000 tons in March. In April 2010, cement production fell by 3.2 percent month-on-month to 3.93 million tons. Additionally, clinker production decreased by 12.9 percent month-on-month to 3.28 million tons. Clinker stock as a percentage of cement sales increased to 236 percent from 226 percent in March 2010 and the high of 481 percent in September last year. Saudi Arabia has 12 cement companies with an estimated annual cement production capacity of 48 million tons. In April, total cement sales in the Kingdom stood at 3.61 million tons versus 3.96 million tons in March and 3.26 million tons in April 2009. Clinker sales in April stood at 140,000 tons compared to 104,000 tons in March and 27,000 tons in April 2009. Nonetheless, private players continued to increase their share of the market, now at an all-time high of 21.4 percent against 13 percent a year ago, the report added. In April 2010, cement and clinker exports stood at 105,000 tons and 63,000 tons respectively. Four companies exported cement during the month-Saudi Cement Saudi Cement, Eastern Province Cement, Northern Region Cement and Tabuk Cement. In April, cement and clinker sales in Saudi Arabia were up 20.1 percent year-on-year to 3.75 million tons compared to 3.29 million tons in April last year. However, month-on-month sales fell by 7.8 percent compared to 4.06 million tons in March. Most companies reported year-on-year declines in volumes with Qassim the worst with volumes down 14 percent year-on-year. Saudi Cement reported the highest growth in domestic sales on an year-on-year basis at 36 per cent with only Yamama and Arabian the other cement companies recording positive growth year-on-year. All firms reported month-on-month declines in sales volumes. The Kingdom's cement exports declined to 105,000 tons in April compared to 107,000 tons in March, although higher than the 71,000 tons in April last year. Additionally, clinker exports decreased to 63,000 tons in April this year compared to 73,000 tons in March. Companies did not export clinker at all in April 2009. In April, Saudi Cement, Eastern Province Cement, Northern Region Cement and Tabuk Cement exported cement. Saudi Cement exports increased to 71,000 tons in April this year against 65,000 tons in March. Northern Region Cement continues to remain the only exporter of clinker in Saudi Arabia and exported 63,000 tons during the month compared to 73,000 tons in March. Saudi Arabia produced 3.93 million tons of cement in April this year, up 4.8 percent year-on-year but down 3.2 percent month-on-month from 4.05 million tons in March. Furthermore, clinker production decreased 12.9 percent on month-on-month basis, while it declined 3.1 percent on YoY basis in April this year. All the companies reported decreases in cement production on a month-on-month basis except Yanbu Cement. On a year-on-year basis, Saudi Cement reported the highest increase at 44 percent. Clinker stock at the manufacturer level decreased for the fourth consecutive month by 4.8 per cent month-on-month to 8.74 million tons, as a result of a decline in clinker production. On a year-on-year basis, clinker stock decreased by 0.1 percent. Cement stock increased by 25.0 percent on a year-on-year basis due to the high increase in production. It also increased significantly on a month-on-month basis, up 40.3 percent. Clinker stock as a percentage of sales increased to 236 percent compared to 226 percent in March. Qassim Cement continues to hold the lowest clinker stock at 52 percent as a percentage of April this year sales. Southern Cement continued as holder of the highest clinker stock percentage at 471 percent of April this year sales compared to 434 percent in March. In April this year, five companies lost domestic market share to seven companies. Riyadh Cement was the biggest gainer of the month increasing its share by 0.89 percent. Yamama Cement was the biggest loser of the month with market share falling by 1.04 percent.
