Maple Leaf production rises
The third quarter of the current financial year 2005-06 ended on March 31, 2006. Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd (MLCFL) recorded production of grey cement at 1.083Mt. It also produced 252,000t of white cement during the nine months of current financial year (9M 2005-06). Overall capacity utilisation during nine months was 89 per cent for grey cement and 106.5 per cent for white cement as compared to 85% and 113% for the same period last year (SPLY).
MLCFL generated net sales of Rs 4.154 billion and pretax profit of Rs 1.254 billion during the nine months of current financial year as against net sales of Rs 3.109 billion and pretax profit of Rs 0.746 billion in the SPLY showing 34% and 68% respectively increase. Earnings per share improved by Rs 0.99 to Rs 2.72 from Rs 1.73 in SPLY.
But pretax profit in 3rd quarter was lower at Rs 418.4 million as compared to Rs 427.87 million in the 2nd Quarter of the current year due to planned maintenance shutdown of the plant which reduced production.
Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCFL) is a part of Kohinoor Maple Leaf Group (KMLG) which comprises top companies in the cement and textile sectors. Some other Group companies are Kohinoor Textile Mills Ltd, Kohinoor Weaving Mills Ltd.
MLCFL is one of the pioneers of cement industry in Pakistan. It owns and operates four production lines of grey and two production lines of white cement. The plants are located at Ismailabad District Mianwali. At present total annual clinker production capacity of grey cement is 1.47 million tonnes while capacity of white cement is 300,000t.
In 2000 a power generation unit was merged into the company. After four years in 2004, a coal conversion project at new dry process plant was completed. In the following year 2005 the grey cement dry process plant capacity was increased from 3,300 tpd to 4,000 tpd through upgradation of equipment and necessary adjustments in operational parameters.
In April 2006, the work on process conversion/expansion project of white cement was completed and production as well as sale from the new plant started.
In 2005, the company had undertaken an expansion project of 6700tpd clinker production capacity and was expected to start by January 1, 2007. According to Q3 Report published on April 22, 2006, shipment of imported machinery and equipment was 90% complete whereas the fabrication of local equipment was in progress according to schedule piling work 100% and of the civil works 75% were completed.
Published under Cement News
