Cement sales in southern Africa were up 0.8% year-on-year (y/y) in December to 921,570 million tons, data from the Cement and Concrete Institute showed on Tuesday.

The institute noted that December 2008 had two more sales days than the same month last year, and if the increase is taken into account, total regional sales were 9.3% lower than in December 2007.

Regional sales are down 3.9% at 14.719 million tons on a year-to-date basis.

The moving annual total in southern Africa was down 3.9% y/y in December to 14.7 million tons.

Exports to other countries excluding Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia rose by 158.1% to 18,385 tons, bringing total exports sales since the beginning of the year to 153,065 tons - down 28.2% on a year-to-date basis