Saudi ministry to continue with selective export ban on cement
Saudi Arabia yesterday said it would continue with the ban on cement exports until producers agree to the demands and conditions set by the Ministry of Commerce. However, permission to export could be granted to only those companies accepting the conditions.
Reacting to reports about an imminent end to a one-year ban on cement exports, Khaled Al Suleiman, the Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, said the 13 main cement manufacturers would be required to meet certain conditions and added these measures were necessary to ensure sufficient supply and price stability in the domestic market.
"Exports of cement and steel will not resume before the manufacturers comply with the rules and meet the conditions set by the Ministry of Commerce. However, we are considering requests by three cement plants to export after meeting the ministry’s conditions and terms… Actually the ministry has not totally banned export of cement and steel as has been rumored. What it has done was a reorganisation of its market as these are very important items," he said. Published under Cement News
