China Exports 4.86Mt of cement

China exported 4.86Mt of cement in the period January to October 2004, up 14.7 per cent year-on-year. The exports generated $164m in revenue, up 20.6 per cent year-on-year. Exports of clinker totalled 675,000t for the 10-month period, up 151.5 per cent year-on-year. The value of the exported clinker was $19m, up 11.4 per cent.

The year-on-year increase in Chinese cement exports in January to October 2004 is the first annual increase registered since 1996. Exports in 2004 were boosted by the large quantities of cement bought by South Korea. Chinese cement exports to South Korea for the first 10 months of 2004 shot up 210 per cent year-on-year by volume, while the value of the exports rose 221 per cent. FOB cement export prices in October 2004 were about US$2.53 higher per tonne, compared to October 2003.