EKBIS.CO, YOGYAKARTA -- Cement sales by Semen Indonesia grew 8.1 percent year-on-year to 25.8 million tons in the first 10 months of this year.

Head of the Communications Bureau of Semen Indonesia Group, Sigit Wahono told reporters here despite an increase sales profit declined on falling price.

In addition, the production cost rose with the rise in electric tariff and coal price, Sigit said.

He said the subsidiaries of Semen Indonesia recorded a 11 percent growth in sales with sales of cement in bulk growing 37 percent and retail sales up only 2 percent.

Around 45.4 percent of its total sales were in East Java in October, 2017.

"We have many strategies one is by establishing many subsidiaries , which are fully in our control," he said.