Cement sales in January in southern Africa were down 4.7% year-on-year to 935,913 tons from 982,424 tons at the same time a year ago, data from the Cement and Concrete Institute showed on Tuesday.

The institute noted that January 2009 had one less sales day than January 2008.

"If the decrease in sales days is taken into account, total regional sales were only 0.2% lower than January 2008," it said.

Regional sales are down 4.7% at 935,913 million tons on a year-to-date basis in 2009.

The moving annual total in southern Africa was down 4.0% year-on-year in January to 14.7 million tons.

Exports to other countries excluding Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia rose by 376.5% to 31,986 tons – up 376.5% on a year-to-date basis.

Cement sales in southern Africa were up 0.8% year-on-year (y/y) in December to 921,570 million tons, data from the Cement and Concrete Institute showed on Tuesday.

The institute noted that December 2008 had two more sales days than the same month last year, and if the increase is taken into account, total regional sales were 9.3% lower than in December 2007.

Regional sales are down 3.9% at 14.719 million tons on a year-to-date basis.

The moving annual total in southern Africa was down 3.9% y/y in December to 14.7 million tons.

Exports to other countries excluding Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia rose by 158.1% to 18,385 tons, bringing total exports sales since the beginning of the year to 153,065 tons - down 28.2% on a year-to-date basis                                                        

SA cement sales rose by 12.1% year-on-year to 862,252 tons in February, ending two months of slowing year-on-year increases

The past year was an outstanding year for the South African cement industry with several sales records being broken, John Sheath, marketing manager of the Cement & Concrete Institute, has reported.

CEMENT producers have been caught off-guard by rapid growth in demand over the past year and SA may face a shortage of cement by 2007.