Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi-based cement companies’ sales retreated by around 26% in August to 2.76 million tonnes from 3.7 million tonnes in the same period of 2017, new data has showed.

Cement firms’ total output also declined 27.65% year-on-year to 2.74 million tonnes last month, the monthly report issued by Al Yamama Cement indicated.

Meanwhile, cement stockpiles slipped by 0.7% to 1.16 million tonnes in August from 1.17 million tonnes in the same month last year.

Southern Cement registered the highest sales amongst its Saudi peers, logging 463,000 tonnes last month, down 1.7% from 471,000 tonnes in the year-ago period, according to the report.

Saudi Cement came in second with 355,000 tonnes in sales, a decrease of 8% from 386,000 tonnes sold in August 2017.

Northern Cement registered the lowest sales in August, after its volumes dropped 47% year-on-year to 45,000 tonnes from 85,000 tonnes.

City Cement did not achieve any sales during the month.