Cement deliveries on the rise

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constructions without permits

Cement deliveries totaled 5.8 million tons in 2013. Central Bank statistics showed an increase of eight percent this year. In 2012, cement deliveries had dropped three percent.

Pierre Doumit, Chairman of Cimenterie Nationale, said: “Small developers took the opportunity to construct buildings without permits, and this led to an increase in cement sales.”

Several reasons are behind the increase in cement deliveries, according to Talaat Lahham, Chief Executive Officer of Ciment de Sibline. He said that the main reason is developing huge projects in Beirut licensed in the past two years, as well as launching new buildings in the suburbs. He also said that municipalities in some regions, especially in the North and South, allowed people to build or expand their premises, following a request from the Ministry of Interior.

In 2013, Cimenterie Nationale deliveries reached 2.8 million tons, compared to 2.55 million tons in 2012. Cimenterie Nationale holds around 49 percent of the market share. Sibline deliveries reached 1.25 million tons, representing a market share of 21 percent. Holcim sales reached 1.75 million tons, with a market share of 30 percent.

The overall number of real estate transactions dropped seven percent to 69,196 in 2013. The total value of the transactions reached $8.7 billion, down by five percent.