Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) expects cement consumption in the UAE to grow at a cumulative annual rate of 1.5% by 2024, pointing out that the value of construction projects in the UAE, currently under construction or under construction, is more than AED 648 billion (about $ 176.62 billion).

Cement consumption in the country is expected to reach 17.1 million metric tons by the end of this year, the chamber said, noting that with the expeditious completion of the projects required to host the Expo 2020 Dubai, construction growth in the UAE will increase and demand will increase. Cement.

Over decades, the UAE has become an important cement producer in the region, the report said, noting that the country began operating a major cement factory in Ras Al Khaimah in the early 1970s. In this area, there has been significant growth.

He pointed out that locally produced cement is mainly used in construction projects in the country, part of which is exported to neighboring countries.

UAE Production

The UAE's cement production reached its highest level last year, reaching 22.2 million metric tons, an increase of 3.3% over the previous year, and a cumulative annual growth rate of 6.8% between 2013 and 2018.

In 2018, 74% of the cement produced (16.5 million metric tons) was consumed domestically, while the rest was exported abroad.

The report pointed out that the UAE is the headquarters of a number of large cement production companies, noting that in 2015, the number of integrated cement plants reached 12 factories, while the number of cement grinding plants to eight, while the number of cement production companies reached 17 companies.

He pointed out that the production capacity of integrated cement plants and cement grinding plants is 29 million metric tons and 10.4 million metric tons annually, pointing out that the bulk of cement production capacity is concentrated in Ras Al Khaimah, but Dubai and Abu Dhabi mainly share the production capacity of cement grinding .

Major Exports

The UAE's main exports of cement are Clinker Cement, Portland Cement and White Portland Cement.In 2018, exports of all cement products accounted for about 1% of the UAE's total non-oil exports to the UAE. the world.

According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, exports of «Portland Cement» last year, the largest share of the total exports of cement products by 50%, followed by «Clinker Cement» (41%), and «White Cement» (5) And other cement products (4%).

The UAE's exports of Portland Cement to the world reached the highest level of AED 983 million, with an annual growth rate of 72% compared to 2017.In addition, between 2012 and 2018, the UAE's exports of this product recorded a cumulative annual growth rate. It reached about 9.8%.

The sixth in the world

According to the Dubai Chamber report, the UAE ranked sixth globally in the list of Portland Cement exporters last year, after Canada, China, Vietnam, Germany and Turkey.In the same year, the UAE exported Portland Cement to 38 countries. The largest buyers were the GCC, especially Oman, which was the largest importer of these products from the UAE with a 72% share, followed by Kuwait (14%), Bahrain (9%) and other countries (5%).

The UAE's exports of cement products are mainly concentrated in the Middle East, but there are significant opportunities for exports to the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, which are among the largest importers of Portland Cement in the world.

Export diversification

According to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry report, cement producers in the UAE can study the infrastructure projects currently under construction and those planned in the various emirates of the country, as well as in other GCC countries, calling for diversifying cement exports to other new areas. , Such as East Asia, to maintain sustainable growth of the important industry.