Lafarge Zambia Plc had to raise prices to stay afloat

Lafarge Zambia's CEO, Jimmy Khan, has spoken out about the crippling overcapacity in Zambia's cement market. Mr Khan said Zambia's cement consumption stands at around 2.2Mt compared to a production of about 5Mt.

Mr Khan told President Lungu at State House in Lusaka yesterday that his company recently hiked cement price by 25 per cent to stay in business. Mr Khan said his firm made losses of about ZMW43m (US$3.3m) due to many players coming in the sector and that management saw it fit to increase prices to stay afloat and operate.

Lafarge Zambia (LafargeHolcim) has moved much of its cargo from road to railway as it pushes to regain a fair share of the market which stands at about 33 per cent. Lafarge will continue to use the Mpulungu Port in Northern province to export cement to the east African market.