Domestic cementitious volumes in South Africa increased by 7.8 per cent YoY to 3.6523Mt in the third quarter of 2015, according to an update posted on PPC’s website. Total year-to-date volumes were recorded at 9.602Mt.

Meanwhile, PPC yesterday said cement sales over the first quarter (October-December 2015) of the current trading year in its South African business were down by 1.6 per cent, while the international businesses recorded an eight per cent drop including low-margin cement exports to other African countries.

Despite the tough South African operating environment, it noted that coastal regions achieved positive volume growth. However, this was more than offset by declines recorded in the increasingly-competitive Gauteng and inland regions. For the same period, average selling prices decreased by four per cent.

With effect from 18 December 2015, final anti-dumping duties were imposed on Portland cement originating in or imported from Pakistan. These duties will remain in place for the next five years.