The combined sales of Saudi Arabia’s eight cement companies rose to 4.0 bln Saudi riyals ($1.067bn) in the first nine months of 2004 from 3.7 bln riyals ($987m) in the year-ago period, it was reported on October 26, 2004. The cement companies’ total cement output stood at 19.5Mt, up from 18.3Mt. Local sales rose to 18.4Mt from 16.9Mt, while exports totalled 1.5Mt, compared to 1.2Mt. The eight cement companies registered a total clinker output of 18Mt, compared to 16.1Mt.