Demand for cement in the Arabian Gulf has opened up export market for units located in coastal areas with the export prices going up by 15 to 20 per cent over recent months. Minister of State for Commerce and Industries, E V K S Elangovan, told reporters that the Indian exporters were able to meet the entire demand for which they received orders. The fact that Indian exporters have the capacity to meet the increased demand from importing countries is established by the fact that the export of cement by Indian cement industry to all countries including West Asian countries during 2002-03 and 2003-04 of the order of 6.2Mt and 9Mt respectively.
