Saudi Cement Co has decided to temporarily stop kiln 6, which has a capacity of 3500tpd, until domestic market conditions improve, including the lifting of the export ban.

The company during a board meeting on 4 February discussed the current market conditions and continuation of export ban, which has led to a rise in clinker inventory to high levels.

Since Kiln Line 6's output would have been added to the 2016 inventory levels, which has already reached around 4Mt, it is not expected that this stoppage would have any impact on the financial results.

The company has also postponed replacing three cement mills with two newer ones that would have raised cement milling capacity by 600,000tpa, it said.