Saudi Arabia: Hail Cement recorded sales worth US$46.2m in the first nine months of 2023, down by 35% year-on-year from US$71.5m in the first nine months of 2022. Nonetheless, the producer’s net profit more than tripled to US$5.7m from US$1.57m. During the third quarter of the year, the company’s sales dropped by 50% year-on-year to US$13.7m, and it reported a loss, against a profit of US$1.59m in the third quarter of 2022.

UAE: India-based UltraTech Cement has issued a US$73.5m corporate guarantee in favour of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Reuters has reported that the guarantee covers credit facilities availed by the group’s subsidiary UltraTech Middle East Investments.

UAE: Umm Al Qura Cement’s sales fell by 34% year-on-year during the first nine months of 2023, to US$31.6m. Meanwhile, the producer’s net profit dropped by 66%, to US$2.68m.

Iraq: Saudi Arabia-based Northern Region Cement Company has hired Germany-based KHD to build a 1.32Mt/yr cement line in Iraq. Reuters has reported the value of the contract as US$139m. The supplier said that the project will last for 16 months from its date of commencement.