As the demand for additional housing and rural development projects in Bangladesh been strong, capacity utilisation rates are relatively high in most cement plants and the industry is currently expanding its production base.

Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA) Senior Vice-President, Abdul Khaliq, said per capita consumption is now 115kg, but this is expected to increase substantially. There are currently 34 active cement factories in the country and the production capacity utilisation is up to 75-80 per cent.

According to the BCMA, Shah Cement, Bashundhara Cement (BG), MI Cement, Diamond Cement, Akij Cement, Seven Circle, Angkor Wat Cement, Premier Cement Mills and Aman Cement are all expanding their grinding capacity. Therefore, the current cement production capacity in the country of ~30Mta is expected to increase by nearly 50 per cent in the next two years.

Lafarge Surma Cement Director, Masood Khan, said, 60 per cent of the cement produced is used in the construction of houses. Infrastructure is also being developed and there is a huge potential to increase the demand for cement in the next few years, according to Mr Khan.