Iran’s cement export prospects bright

A senior cement industry official said on Monday that favourable investments in recent years have brightened the prospects of exporting cement to international markets. Abbas Safakish, the Ministry of Industries and Mines director general for mining industries, told ILNA that brokers have to be eliminated to create a balance between supply and demand in the sector. "Once the middlemen are prevented from operating in cement market, the artificial rise in demand will not occur and prices will be regulated accordingly," he said, expressing hope that more investors will participate in cement projects once the Comprehensive Cement Scheme is launched. Iranian Minister of Industries and Mines Es’haq Jahangiri said earlier that hikes in international cement prices have discouraged the government from importing this product. He proposed that funds allocated for cement imports be spent on developing the industry.

Some 20 major cement projects are currently being implemented across the country. Official figures suggest that Iran’s cement production will double in the next 15 years to reach 65Mta.  At least two 3500-ton-capacity cement units must be constructed each year to achieve this target. The current level of cement production stands at 32Mt per annum. Cement units in Tehran account for 13 per cent of the total national production. Iran also produces some 70 per cent of the equipment used in the domestic cement industry.