The heavy demand for cement in Sabah is being solved by additional imports from Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Cement Industries Sabah (CIS) said some 65,000 metric tonnes of the commodity would arrive this month from various sources.

CIS managing director Datuk Aslie Awang Hashim said here this is in addition to the normal production from its plant at Sepanggar Bay which has a capacity to produce 800,000 metric tonnes per year.

He said the imported cement consisted of 750,000 bags and 31,600 metric tonnes of bulk cement. The bulk cement will be delivered in two shipments while cement in bags will be delivered in three shipments.
Datuk Aslie said the cement will be shipped directly to their respective destinations in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Lahad Datu. CIS has placed orders for further imports to meet the anticipated demand till the end of the year.

Meanwhile, CIS Chairman Datuk Yahya Lampong said he was aware of the sudden upsurge in demand for cement and rumblings of discontent from the construction sector. Based on CIS production and imports, there is no real shortage of cement in Sabah.