Cement Producers to give up exports in five years

Thailand:  Eight local cement manufacturers have agreed to gradually cut their exports to zero within five years, the Bangkok Post reports, quoting Nopadol Ramayarupa, chairman of the cement branch of the Federation of Thai Industries.  Local producers need five years to clear their backlogs of orders while cement exports this year would be cut to 10Mt from 12Mt in 2003, Nopadol said according to the report.   The eight producers reviewed cement exports Thursday with Commerce Ministry officials after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra expressed concerns about the industry’s impact on the environment during his visit last week to Saraburi, the country’s main cement production base.

The eight manufacturers are Siam Cement, Siam City Cement PCL, TPI Polene PCL, Asia Cement, Jalaprathan Cement, Cemex Thailand, Samakkee Cement and Thai Sathapana.  Local cement producers should be able to reduce exports as planned as the lost of export revenue could be offset by rising demand from recovering real estate industry, said Siripol Yodmuangcharoen, director general of the Commerce Ministry’s Internal Trade Department.