SCG Cement outlines additional Cambodian spend

SCG Cement has outlined an additional investment of US$200-300m into Cambodia over the next five years, according to Aree Chavalitcheewingul, vice president for regional business of SCG Cement-Building Materials.

According to Thai media, the five-year investment plan includes adding a third line to its Kampotcement plant, southern Cambodia, where SCG commenced the second production line in mid-2015. SCG also plans to double its network of ready-mix concrete plants in the country.

"We have seen a lot of opportunities, especially this year, as cement demand has increased remarkably. There are many new residential and commercial projects coming up in Phnom Penh,"  Aree told local press.

Cambodian cement demand has grown for several years, recording an annual growth rate of 16 per cent in 2012-13 and reaching 3.46Mt in 2013. In 2014 market expansion is estimated to be in the region of seven per cent with demand at 3.69Mt. Consumption is now driven principally by housing and commerce.

SCG is expanding rapidly in the ASEAN markets, with its first cement plant in Indonesia opening in the third quarter of 2015. It will start its first cement plant in Myanmar in 2016 and SCG will start a plant in Laos in 2017.