Iran plans to export 18.5Mt of cement in the current Iranian calendar year, which began on 21 March, Mehdi Ghazanfari, the Iranian deputy industry, mines and trade minister, said. The exports are projected to increase 4.9Mt compared to the year before.
 
If Iran does export 18-20Mt of cement in 2013, it will rank in third place after China and India. The Middle East country currently exports cement to 24 countries. Despite international sanctions against the Islamic republic, Iran's cement exports rose by 30 per cent in 2012 compared to 2011, the Iranian News Agency added.
 
Iraq, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Pakistan and Qatar were the main destinations for Iranian cement in 2012.
 
Iran produced over 70Mt of cement in the past Iranian calendar year, according to Iranian cement industry officials. Domestic cement production will reach 75Mt by the end of the current Iranian calendar year.
 
Mehdi Ghazanfari said in August 2012 that the country's cement production capacity will reach 110Mta by 2015.