Following rapid growth Iran’s cement capacity is forecast to reach 100Mta by 2021 and 120Mta by the end of the country’s 20-Year Vision Plan in 2025. Key infrastructure and housing projects as well as new export markets are expected to provide the demand required to support the continued expansion of the domestic cement industry. By Hamid Reza Tajik, ICEM Co, Iran.
The reinstatement of US sanctions last year following the abandonment of a landmark nuclear accord in 2016 has presented Iran with several economic challenges and impacted its construction activity. Despite this, the country’s cement industry continues to expand domestic production capacity. As well as the completion of cement plants near its western, southern and eastern borders, several clinker capacity upgrades and new grinding projects will be come to fruition by the end of the year. With the extra capacity, the Iranian cement industry expects to strengthen its position in the medium term in new foreign markets such as Syria and China, as well as in the domestic market.
