Sales of cement companies rose by 4 percent to reach 55.6 million tons in 2013 compared to 53.5 million tons in 2012, local media said quoting a specialized report.

However, sales of cement firms dropped by 6 percent in December 2013 to 4.79 million tons compared to figures of the same period in 2012, which reached 5.08 million tons, the report, based on data released by Yamamah Cement Company (YCC), said.

Sales of all cement companies fell during December with the exception of four companies — Madinah Cement Company (MCC), Arabian Cement Company (ACC), Northern Province Cement Company (NPCC) and Safwa Cement Company (SCC) whose sales increased by 40 percent, 37 percent, 22 percent, and 16 percent, respectively, the report added.

Meanwhile, Jouf Cement Company (JCC) and Riyadh Cement company (RCC) registered the highest drop in sales during the month at 37 percent and 30 percent, respectively, the report said.

Year-on-year basis, the NPCC registered the highest rates of sales during 2013 to hit 83 percent compared to figures of 2012. Clinker production of all cement companies, meanwhile, reached 4.89 million tons in December compared to 4.26 million tons in December 2012, or an increase of 14.7 percent, according to the report.

In November, sales of cement companies dropped by 17 percent to 3.65 million tons compared to 4.37 million tons in the same period in 2012.

The sales drop was attributed to the correction campaigns recently carried out against irregular foreign workers following the expiration of amnesty period on Nov. 3, experts said.

In mid-December, Zamil Al-Miqrin, head of the National Committee for Cement Companies, said the first week of the campaigns experienced a sharp fall in sales that reached in some companies 50 percent but, however, an improvement in prices was expected by the beginning of January of the current year (2014).