Features Med Basin and Persian Gulf cement FOB prices slip; producers remain confident 14 December, 2020 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Share Tweet Post Email LATEST Markets & Competition India launches an incubation hub for cement startups Ministry launches incubation center for sustainable May 21, 2024 Environment Holcim's Hagerstown plant invests in alternative fuels Boosting alternative thermal energy at Hagerstown May 21, 2024 MOST READ Environment Cemvision intensifies partnership with Peab Partnership with Cemvision marks sustainability May 14, 2024 Markets & Competition Argos halts concrete production Company halts concrete production to focus on cement and May 15, 2024 Med Basin and Persian Gulf cement FOB prices slip; producers remain confident FOB prices for cement and clinker have faced slim decreases in February, according to CW Research's Cement and Clinker Price Assessments for Med Basin and Persian Gulf. However, cement manufacturers in select markets remain optimistic about an improvement in the midterm. In February, FOB prices for bulk ordinary Portland cement decreased slightly month on month in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea region, while prices for prompt deliveries of bulk ordinary grade clinker also recorded a slim contraction. According to Ana Almeida, Analyst with CW Research: "Expectations for higher levels of exports coming from Saudi Arabia are likely to bring some relief to the country's stockpile. For the moment, however, the region continues to struggle with that matter." Cement demand levels in Saudi Arabia continue slipping, having recorded a single-digit contraction in December. Over that month, cement dispatches by Saudi companies declined to 4.1 million compared with 4.4 million tons in the same month a year ago. Nevertheless, Saudi cement producers are making plans to export this year. According to the National Cement CompaniesÔÇÖ Committee, the domestic market will export around two million tons in 2018. At least nine companies are interested in selling their products abroad. Spanish economic recovery bringing optimism to cement producers Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean Basin region, FOB prices for prompt deliveries of both bulk ordinary Portland cement and clinker registered a slim decrease when compared to the previous month. Commenting on the price development, Ana Almeida noted: "In the Med Basin region, cement and clinker producers are facing strong competition, mainly in the North African region. However, sporadic shortages in some countries can be seen as opportunities in the next months." In Turkey, cement producers continue to struggle with the rise of the thermal coal prices, as rates are reaching an unprecedented peak since 2014. In Spain, although cement consumption in 2017 is expected to have reached a new high since 2012, the 12.3 million tons figure is still far from the levels recorded before the economic downturn. Nonetheless, for 2018, cement manufacturers remain confident in their country's economy and in a subsequent improvement in the cement sector. Find out more here Sign in Don't have any account? Create one SHOW Forgot your username/ password? Log in Terms Of Service Privacy Policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Terms of Service apply Sign in as: User Registration * Required field Sign In Information Personal Information Agree Yes No Terms of Service:You consent that we will collect the information you have provided us herein as well as subsequent use of our platform to render and personalize our services, send you newsletters and occasionally provide you with other information. * Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required. Register SaveCookies user preferencesWe use cookies to ensure you to get the best experience on our website. If you decline the use of cookies, this website may not function as expected.Accept allDecline allCW GroupNewsAcceptDecline