Cement sales in the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) increased 5.7 percent last month as economic growth spurred demand from the construction industry.
Sales in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland rose to 796 594 tons from 753 836 tons a year earlier, the Midrand-based Cement and Concrete Institute said on its website yesterday. Exports surged 81 percent to 27 826 tons.  Economic growth in South Africa rose to an eight-year high in the third quarter of last year, the latest figures available, spurring construction and helping push up house prices by 33 per cent last month from a year earlier.
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