Cement sales in January in southern Africa were down 4.7% year-on-year to 935,913 tons from 982,424 tons at the same time a year ago, data from the Cement and Concrete Institute showed on Tuesday.

The institute noted that January 2009 had one less sales day than January 2008.

"If the decrease in sales days is taken into account, total regional sales were only 0.2% lower than January 2008," it said.

Regional sales are down 4.7% at 935,913 million tons on a year-to-date basis in 2009.

The moving annual total in southern Africa was down 4.0% year-on-year in January to 14.7 million tons.

Exports to other countries excluding Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia rose by 376.5% to 31,986 tons – up 376.5% on a year-to-date basis.