Egypt reportedly ranked fifth among the world’s cement exporters in 2003 with exports totalling 7.4Mt, preceded only by Thailand, Turkey, Indonesia and Japan, it was reported on March 5, 2004.  The number of Egyptian companies exporting cement increased to 13 in the second half of 2003 from nine in the first half of 2003 and six in 2002.  Egyptian cement maker Tora Portland Cement exported 796,600 tonnes of cement in the first nine months of 2003, up 87.3 pct year-on-year. The exports of Helwan Cement soared 1,301 pct to 1.11 million tonnes during the same period, while Egyptian Cement exported 1.927 million tonnes, up from 691,800 tonnes. Sinai Cement exported 369,200 tonnes in the nine-month period, up 109.8 pct year-on-year, while exports of National Cement grew 171.4 pct to 771,000 tonnes, and Misr Cement Qena exported 530,020 tonnes, an increase from 15,990 tonnes.  The companies which started exporting cement for the first time in 2003 included Sinai White Cement, Misr Beni Suef Cement, Asyut Cement, Beni Suef Cement, Alexandria Cement and Ameriya Cement.