PPC’s sales volumes fall by 3% in nine months to December 2018

South Africa: PPC’s sales volume of cement fell by 2 – 3% year-on-year in the nine months to December 2018. The cement producer said that, although prices had risen, the market had shrunk by up to 5%. Imports grew by 80% year-on-year for the January to November 2018 period. It added that its Sure Range product line had continued to gain market share against Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) and blended products. Outside of South Africa the company said that growth had been low in Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo due to local market conditions. Better performance was noted in Rwanda and Ethiopia.