Saudi calls for lift of export ban to supply Egypt

Saudi Arabia’s cement producers have again asked the government to lift a three-year-old ban on their exports so they can supply Egypt with 6Mt of cement, according to Jihad Al-Rasheed, chairman of the national cement committee in the council of Saudi chambers of commerce and industry.

“We are ready to export 6Mt of our cement surplus to Egypt following the signing of large contracts between that country and global companies this week,” Mr Al-Rasheed  told the Saudi Arabic language daily Al-Riyadh.

He said it was time for Saudi authorities to lift the export ban after the emergence of “golden” opportunities for the country’s cement manufacturers to export their products to nearby Qatar. Other key markets which need Saudi cement include Kuwait, Bahrain, Sudan, Yemen and Ethiopia.

“Some Saudi cement plants were constructed in border areas with the aim of exporting their products to neighboring countries but the export ban has inflicted heavy losses on them and could also force them to lay off workers,” he said.