Bahrain: The local construction sector is expected to grow following the lifting of export duties on cement by Saudi Arabia. Saudi National Committee of Cement Producers chairman Jehad Al Rasheed told said that cement export duties were cancelled at the end of January 2018, according to the Gulf Daily News newspaper. Export tariffs were originally set at US$23 – 35/t but were then halved in July 2017 to encourage the market.
Bahrain had been the only country allowed to import cement from Saudi Arabia since 2009. However, the price rose significantly in March 2017 after the Saudi government introduced new tariffs and permitted cement exports globally.