Steppe Cement 1H Sells 523,156 Tons Of Cement For KZT4,694M

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Steppe Cement Ltd (STCM.LN), a Malaysian-incorporated holding company, said Tuesday that in the first half of 2010, it sold 523,156 ton of cement for KZT4,694 million, compared to 442,227 tonnes of cement for KZT3,881 million in the first half of 2009. MAIN FACTS: -This represents an increase of 18% and 21% in sales volume and revenue respectively compared to the first half of 2009. -The current period's average price ex-VAT for delivered cement was KZT8,972 per ton compared with KZT8,776 per ton in the corresponding period of 2009. -Ex-factory price for the current period stood at KZT7,755 per ton. -The cement market volume in Kazakhstan increased by 19% period on period and the market share of Steppe Cement was maintained at 20% in the first half of both 2010 and 2009. -Shares at 0715 GMT up 1.50 pence, or 3.30%, at GBP47 pence, valuing the company at GBP72.38 million. -By Razak Musah Baba, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9275; razak.baba@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 27, 2010 03:19 ET (07:19 GMT)