Two plants in Iran's South Khorasan province have produced around 765,000t of cement since the start of the current Iranian year (21 March-22 Oct), a 22 per cent YoY increase, according to Davud Shahraki, chairman of the province's Industry, Mining and Trade Organisation.

"Two plants operating in Qaen and Darmian counties of South Khorasan province employ 350 people. These plants are able to produce 1.8 million tons of cement per year," said Mr Shahraki.

The value of the produced cement stands at approximately IRR920bn (US$21.95m). Furthermore, 445,000t of the cement has been exported for US$10m. This is an increase compared to 350,000t of the 593,000t total which was exported in the same period of the previous year. Iran's southern province of Homozgan reported a similar rise in exports earlier in the month.