The rise in cement sales seems to be related to usage in preparing the port at Coega in the Eastern Cape, where cement sales rose by 79.8 per cent y/y after increasing by 52.1 per cent y/y in December following a 76.6 per cent y/y increase in September and a 151.2 per cent y/y surge in August. Third quarter 2003 sales were up 109.7 per cent y/y in the Eastern Cape.
In January 2004, the provincial growth rates varied from 79.8 per cent y/y in the Eastern Cape to -24.9 per cent y/y in the Northern Cape. Statistics South Africa previously reported that real value added in the construction industry only rose by 2.0 per cent y/y in 2002, and in the first half of 2003 expanded by only 3.0 per cent y/y. In November 2003 this was revised substantially to a 4.3 per cent increase in 2002 and the first three quarters of 2003 are now up 5.1 per cent y/y. A substantial upwards revision is also expected to this data when Statistics South Africa rebases the national accounts to a 2000 base instead of the current 1995 base in November 2004. (Original Report: Business Day, south Africa)
