Nepal: cement and clinker imports hit US$154m

The value of clinker and cement imports to Nepal in FY16 amounted to NPR16.4bn (US$155m), Republica reports.

The country imported clinker worth NPR9.84bn in FY16, up by 17 per cent on the previous year. In the same period, imports of finished cement reached PKR6.54bn.

Dhurba Thapa, president of Nepal Cement Manufacturers Association (NCMA), stated that rising clinker imports were a sign of the country’s increasing productive capacity: "As production of cement is increasing, it is only natural for the raw materials to increase accordingly.

“Many industries are not being able to produce clinkers due to geographical, political and environmental issues."

However, Mr Thapa added that he was confident that Nepal would be self-sufficient in clinker within two years, in line with the government’s policy for the industry.