Oman Cement output declines on mill setback

Oman Cement posted a 3.1 per cent rise in net profit for the first half of 2013 to OMR9.3m (US$24.2m) compared to OMR9m in the same period a year ago. Sales and output, however, fell partly due to the shutdown of one of its mills due to technical problems.

The company produced 1.06Mt in the first half compared to 1.12Mt, 5.23 per cent. Total sales fell 2.6 per cent to OMR27.33m from OMR28.06m a year earlier. One of the company’s 150tph mills was shut for over a month but operations resumed following its repair.

"We have been directing our efforts to improve our performance with a balanced approach. However, due to a few setbacks affecting our production adversely, we had not been able to reach optimal levels during the second quarter of the year and our efforts at improvement will continue," said Dr Abdullah Abbas Ahmed, chairman of Oman Cement, in the directors' report.

The company is in the process of increasing grinding capacity through the installation of a new 150tph mill and is currently in the process of identifying a suitable supplier.