Egyptian cement exports decline in the 2M19

Egyptian cement exports declined in value to US$19m in the first two months of 2019 compared with US$23m of the year-ago period, according to the Export Council for Building Materials (ECBM).

In February alone, exports fell 11.1 per cent YoY to US$8m from US$9m. The same month saw the country export to 26 countries, including five new markets, Japan, Cyprus, Slovenia, Spain, France and China.

Libya is ranked at the top of cement importing countries, according to the report. Imports increased 144 per cent YoY in February 2019 to US$2.9m from US$1.2m. Yemen followed, although Egypt's export value to this country declined by six per cent to US$1.5m from US$1.6m.

Elsewhere, exports to the US surged 53 per cent to US$1.13m, compared with US$742,000 in February 2018. However, Saudi Arabia posted a 12 per cent decrease in imports to US$396,000 from US$450,000. Finally, Lebanon saw a 20 per cent rise in deliveries to US$360,000 from US$300,000.