Iran cement prices set to increase

Iranian cement prices are set to increase by 14-21 per cent in the next Iranian calendar year (starting 21 March 2014), local press have reported.

The Iran Cement Producers Association and the Industry, Mine and Trade Ministry earlier this year signed an agreement allowing the association to decide on prices, Iran’s ISNA News Agency reported.

During the current year, prices rose by 14-21.5 per cent.

The country produced 58.226Mt of cement in the first 10 months of this year, of which some 47.15Mt were supplied to the domestic market. A total of 60.642Mt of clinker was also produced during the same period, representing a 3.6 per cent YoY.

Cement output in the 10th calendar month of Dey (ending 22 January 2014) amounted to 3.987Mt, while clinker output totaled 5.861Mt (+11.6 per cent YoY).

Abdolreza Sheykhan, an official at the Iran's Cement Producers Association, said that Iran exported 14.425Mt of cement and clinker in the first three quarters of the current Iranian calendar year. This translates to a 36.2 per cent YoY rise. Cement accounted for 11.164Mt of the amount.