Lipetskcement, part of the Eurocement Group, reported a 25 per cent increase in production during the first quarter of 2013, the company announced in a statement.

The company produced 164,000t of cement in the three months to the end of March 2013, with the production of CEM 1 32.5 N being six times higher than the first quarter of 2012. The production of bagged cement in 1Q13 rose by 36 per cent YoY to 9307t compared to last year.

Total shipments between Jan-March 2013 amounted to 153,000t, 17 per cent higher than the same period of last year. Of the total volume, 98,749t of cement was delivered by rail, up 29.4 per cent compared to 1Q12 while customer-collection shipments totalled 54,591t, equal to the 2012 level.

The "well-coordinated team-work of CJSC Lipetskcement and the Lipetsk-based branch of JSC Eurocement Group helped expand cement markets, which, consequently, led to a significant increase in the volume of shipment of products of the Lipetsk cement plant" Vladimir Sokoltsov, general director of Lipetskcement, commented.

During the first-quarter the company undertook its overhaul to coincide with seasonal declines in demand.  Three rotary kilns, four cement and raw mills were overhauled, enabling the company to meet peak demand during the summer period.