Capacity in Pakistan inches ahead

The capacities of Pakistan's cement industry in the north and south of the country are regularly being expanded. As a result, total cement capacity in Pakistan is on track to increase from 47Mta in FY17 to 56.6Mta by the end of FY19.

Bestway Cement (BWCL) has reportedly started trial production at its 1.8Mta brownfield cement plant in the north. According to market sources, the commercial operations are expected to begin by 15 June 2018, contrary to earlier expectation of commencement of commercial operations in 1QFY19.

According to a research house report, with BWCL’s latest expansion coming online, cement capacity in the north would rise by five per cent from 38.8Mta to 40.6Mta.

Cherat Cement (CHCC) is next in line to expand with an extra 2.2Mta scheduled for commissioning by 2HFY19. Following the completion of the BWCL and CHCC projects, total capacity in Pakistan will rise to 42.8Mta by the end of FY19, an increase of 10 per cent.

Earlier this week DG Khan Cement (DGKC) also announced commencement of trial operations of its 2.8Mta greenfield cement plant in Hub, Balochistan, which will increase industry’s capacity in the south by 25 per cent from 11Mta to 13.8Mta.