South African cement sales grew 10.5 percent year-on-year to 1.308 million tons in April from the 1.183 million tons recorded a year earlier, data from the Cement and Concrete Institute showed on Monday.

Sales are, however, down 0.4 percent in the year to April to 4.664 million tons compared with the same period last year, the institute said.

Sales in Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia grew 30.4 percent y/y in April to 112 869 tons. Sales, at 372 923 tons in those countries so far this year, are up 7.6 percent on the same time last year.

Exports to other countries, excluding Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia, however, receded 87.1 percent y/y last month to 3839 tons, bringing total sales since the beginning of the year to 50 790 tons – down 29.2 percent on the year-to-date sales last year.

The moving annual total in South Africa was up 2.4 percent y/y in April to 15.298 million tons, with exports to Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia were 13.8 percent higher at 1.217 million tons, and 15.7 percent stronger to 192 163 tons in exports to other countries.

In total, sales, including export sales and sales in Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia, were up 8.1 percent to 1.311 million tons.

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