Saudi Arabia, the largest cement producer in the GCC, produced over 57 million tonnes of cement in 2014, according to a report.

The kingdom, which recorded a 33.2 per cent capacity expansion in the cement sector in the last five years, is among the top 10 cement producers in the world, the Arab News report said.

The heavy infrastructural developments, including a series of economic cities have led to a high demand for cement in Saudi Arabia. Almost the entire cement production (98.8 per cent) of the sector is being consumed within the country itself, it said.

The strong project pipeline suggests that a huge demand for cement is likely to remain in force over the next few years. Fundamentals of the sector indicate an optimistic outlook in the long term.

Saudi Cement Company with its cement production of eight million tonnes and clinker production of 8.5 million tonnes remained at the top. The company showed a decrease of 8.5 per cent in yearly cement production and 3.4 per cent in clinker production as its Kilns 4 and 5 at Al Hofuf plant were under rehabilitation.

Southern Province Cement followed it, producing 7.77 million tonnes of cement, an increase of 5.6 per cent compared to 7.36 million tonnes of 2013, and produced 7.38 million tonnes of clinker during 2014. The company also intends to add a couple of more lines, which will commence commercial production in the fourth quarter of this year. Both companies contribute 27.6 per cent to the sector’s total production.