Bestway Cement of Pakistan has posted a five per cent rise in half-year net profit to PKR3.94bn compared to PKR3.75bn (US$36.8m) in the comparative period of the previous fiscal. The second quarter (October-December 2014) proved better for the company as it earned PRK2.34bn, up 12.5 per cent YoY.

Bestway Cement has three plants in the north of the country (one in Chakwal and two in Hattar) and a current production capacity of 5.9Mta. In July 2014, however, Bestway secured the purchase of 75.86 per cent of shares in Lafarge Cement Pakistan Ltd (LPCL) in a deal that was due for completion in January 2015. The addition of LPCL’s 2.8Mta plant in District Chakwal, Punjab, boosts Bestway’s capacity to 8.7Mta, representing 18 per cent of Pakistan’s total cement capacity and now making it the largest cement manufacturer in the country.