Turkish Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMB) announced the first 9 months of data by the sector. According to the January-September data of cement industry – the locomotive of Turkey’s economy; 10.1 percent of the cement produced was subject to exports. According to the report, the largest increase in regional sales was observed in the Aegean and Central Anatolia regions. The biggest export increase in mostly Senegal, U.S.A. and Guinea In the first 2 months of the year, sales grew by 31 percent in the first 2 months of the year due to the harsh winter conditions not experienced as in the first months of 2017. Sales increased by 4 percent and 8 percent on a monthly basis in March and April and went back to its normal flow. However, in the last 4 months since May, sales decreased on a monthly basis due to the month of Ramadan and the holidays and it realized on a minus level by the end of August. In September, production and sales continued to decline, though not as high as last month. Compared to the same period of the previous year, cement exports and clinker exports increased by 27% and 53% respectively in September. According to TURKSTAT data, in the January-September period of 2018, the country with the highest increase in cement and clinker exports was Senegal, followed by U.S.A and Guinea. Haiti and Ghana were among the other markets where export rates increased.
