Trucks queue outside Yanbu cement factory for supply

An estimated 500 trucks have been queuing outside a Yanbu cement factory for up to five days in an attempt to receive cement deliveries.
There have been conflicting reports on why the backlog is taking place. In addition, a bag of cement now costs SR 19, up from SR 14.
A source at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Yanbu told a local newspaper that, “Quantities of cement bags are largely available on the local market. However, we found a number of trucks selling cement bags in Yanbu. The price of a bag is still SR 14. We have also tried to call the cement factory in Yanbu to find out the reasons for the truck congestion in front of the factory, but there was no response.”
Chairman of the Contractors’ Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Abdullah Radwan, told Arab News the cement factory is under intense pressure because of its close proximity of clients in Jeddah, Makkah and other cities in the western region.
“The main reason for the continuing rise in cement prices is that there are too few cement factories in the Kingdom. There are only 17 factories in Saudi Arabia. At the same time, there is high demand from clients. The cement factories cannot provide them with high quantities at low cost,” Radwan added.
Trucks drivers said they spent up to five days trying to get supplies.
Yanbu residents and truck drivers said queuing was a common occurrence and called on the authorities to find a solution.
“We are all wondering why the trucks are still parking in this place with no solution on the horizon,” said Abdulaziz Al-Refai, a Yanbu resident. Refai and Hamed Al-Jehani, also Yanbu residents, pointed out that the plant works at full capacity, but the problem persists throughout the year.