Oman Cement Company (OCC), the Sultanate’s second largest cement producer, is planning to increase its cement grinding capacity. A consultancy agency has been engaged to study the feasibility of further expansion, according to reports in the Times of Oman. The company has also said it posted a 23.9 per cent growth in first quarter profit at OMR5.14m, against OMR4.15m for the same period last year.

Sales were up by 13.78 per cent at 558,495t of cement for the first quarter from 490,865t for the same period last year.

“The supply of cement from neighbouring countries in large quantities and at low prices has continued to exert pressure both on volume and the price of the cement sold. We have been able to improve our sales and profit with a balanced approach of marketing efforts, a competitive price structure backed with high quality of our product and adopting effective expenditure control measures,” stated Dr Abdulla Abbas Ahmed, chairman of Oman Cement Company .

“Going forward with a value of Oman construction projects worth millions of rials for the next couple of years adding stimulus to cement demand, we believe that Oman Cement Company will continue to maintain its top-line growth momentum,” he added.