Total sales of cement companies in Saudi Arabia fell by 5% last December to 4.39 million metric tons, compared to 4.63 million metric tons recorded during the same period last year.

Despite the decline in total sales, eight companies recorded an increase in sales last December, led by “Arabian Cement” with a 55.9% increase and ”Umm Al-Qura Cement” with a 51.2% increase compared to the same month in 2022. Meanwhile, sales fell for nine companies, led by “Northern Cement” with a 50.6% decline and ”United Cement” with a 46.9% decline.

Data from the 17 cement companies listed on the “Tadawul” stock exchange showed that five companies exported 90,000 metric tons of cement during December 2023, led by “Saudi Cement,” which exported approximately 56,000 metric tons.

Clinker production declines

Production by cement companies also declined by 0.9% last December, reaching 5.07 million metric tons, compared to 5.12 million metric tons in December 2022.

Meanwhile, clinker inventories stood at 39.9 million metric tons at the end of December, up 13.9% compared to the same month in 2022, when they stood at 35.1 million metric tons.

Six companies exported clinker during December 2023, led by Saudi Cement, which exported approximately 135,000 metric tons, followed by Yanbu Cement with 119,000 metric tons.