Burned by SARS, Taiwan cement firms to boost exports

Taipei, June 6, 2003 (CENS)--Leading cement producers in Taiwan are turning to overseas markets to make up the shortfalls in domestic sales caused by the SARS epidemic on the island.

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome undercut the sales of cement in Taiwan in May for the second month in a row.

The total domestic output of cement products in Taiwan amounted to 1.647 million metric tons in May, down 6.41% from the same month last year. Universal Cement suffered the biggest fall of 40.68%, followed by Hsing Ta Cement, down 27.48%; Lucky Cement, down 20.12%; Asia Cement, down 3.15%; and Taiwan Cement, down 2.88%. Only Southeast Cement posted an output gain of 16.98%.

Domestic sales dropped 17.85% to 1.14 million tons in May. The slides ranged from 26.76% for Taiwan Cement to 26.76% for Asia Cement. Southeast Cement posted a sales gain of 12.99%.

Both of the two major companies in the industry have striven to boost their export sales. Taiwan Cement managed to ship abroad 301,632 tons in May for a steep rise of 113.6% over the same month of 2002. Asia Cement also registered an impressive export growth of 45.9% to 175,370 tons.

Other companies are also cultivating overseas markets. Taiwan Cement is planning to develop the export market in Europe while Asia Cement is considering to follow suit.