An official source at the Omani Ministry of Commerce and Industry has said measures made recently by the Ministry's consumer production department to regulate export of local cement has succeeded in curbing the hike in cement prices.
According to ONA, he said regular follow up reports received by the Ministry indicated that cement prices in the Sultanate were down by 40% when compared with prices prevailing in the region.
He said variations in prices in wilayats was due to the relative cost of transporting cement from the factories. He explained the wilayats vary in geographical proximity to the two cement producing factories and haulage costs vary accordingly. However, he said differences in prices were reasonable in general.
The official said cement price in the wilayat of Nizwa currently stands at RO. 1,350 per 50kg bag, in the wilayat of Bahla RO. 1,400, in the wilayat of Ibri RO. 1,250, in the wilayat of Sur RO. 1,400 and in the wilayat of Haima RO. 1,600.
He said the prices of reinforcing iron bars range from RO. 190 to RO. 200 per ton, depending on the measurement of the iron bar and the distance to the point of delivery from the distribution centre. (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
