State-owned cement maker PT Semen Gresik is planning to increase its export volume despite the economic crisis in 2009, the company’s president director, Dwi Soetjipto, said. The company’s export volume in 2007 stood at 500,000t, but it was hoped the volume would increase to 1Mt in 2009.

"This year, the export volume is predicted to account for only five per cent of overall sales, while demand abroad is actually higher," he said