For the first nine months of 2017, cement consumption in Indonesia rose 6.6 per cent to 47.432Mt from 45.504Mt, according to the Indonesian Cement Association (ASI). The data reflects sales by ASI members only.

Demand in Java increased 11.3 per cent to 26.962Mt YoY while the off-take from ASI members in Sumatra showed a 4.2 per cent rise to 9.988Mt and in Nusa Tenggara, ASI members supplied 2.687Mt (+2.1 per cent) in 9M17. The Kalimantan market contracted by 5.8 per cent in the period to 2.902Mt from 3.082Mt in 9M16. In Maluku and Irian Jaya, sales by ASI members fell 4.6 per cent to 1.052Mt in 9M17 from 1.102Mt in the year-ago period. Sulawesi sales remained largely stable at 3.841Mt in January-September 2017.

Meanwhile, exports saw a 68.1 per cent YoY rise in 9M17 to 2.014Mt from 1.198Mt in 9M16. Clinker exports accounted for 1.3Mt of this total and noted a 45 per cent YoY rise. Cement exports reached 0.784Mt, more than twice the volume recorded in 9M16 when they stood at 0.35Mt.