Indonesia’s domestic cement sales in July rose 2.6 per cent compared with a year earlier, the first annual increase since November, according to local news reports.  
 
Indonesia’s cement sales have been declining this year as the economy has slowed following a government decision to sharply hike domestic fuel prices last October to scale back its crippling subsidy bill.  
 
Bisnis Indonesia newspaper, quoting data from Indonesia’s Cement Association (ASI), said sales reached 2.79Mt last month, compared with 2.59Mt in June and 2.72Mt in July 2005.  
 
Sales on Java, Indonesia’s main island, were 1.74Mt, compared with nearly 1.8Mt a year ago. 
 
Despite the growth in July, total cement sales since the start of this year were still 2.85 per cent lower at 17.25Mt compared with a year ago.