The cement output of Saudi cement producer Southern Province Cement (SPC) rose to 987,000t for the first three months of 2004 from 883,000t in the corresponding period of 2003.  Local cement sales stood at 898,000t, compared to 879,000t. Cement exports increased to 73,000t from 16,000t and clinker exports registered a significant drop to 27,000t from 191,000t.  The total output of Saudi Arabia’s eight cement companies rose to 6.1Mt from 5.6Mt.  Southern Province Cement was established in 1978 and is based in Abha, southwestern Saudi Arabia.