According to news released by the Chinese Development and Reform Commission on May 8th, China’s export tax rebate policy met early success. China exported 7.72Mt of cement and clinker in the first quarter of 2007, down one per cent YoY. The average offshore export prices of both cement and clinker increased year-on-year in the first quarter of 2007. China’s cement exports accounted for less than three per cent of the country’s total output. China exported cement mainly to the Middle East, the USA and EU markets, focusing primarily on new-type dry-processed cement and clinker.