Iran: Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) has announced that Iran produced 23.41Mt of cement in the first four months of the current Iranian year (21 March 2011 to 22 July 2011) showing a 19% rise compared with the same period in 2010.
The report added that Iranian companies produced 6.37Mt in Tir (4th month in the solar calendar, 22 June 2011 – 22 July 2011). Mohammad Hassan Pourkhalil, the secretary of the Cement Industry Contractors Union, stated that Iran exported 0.94Mt of cement in this month. Pourkhalil added that Iran's exports of cement and clinker surpassed 3.40Mt from 21 March to 22 July, showing a 14% growth compared with the same period in 2010.
In June 2011 Iran launched two new cement factories in the provinces of West Azerbaijan and Golestan. Khoy cement factory, which cost USD140m, has the capacity to produce more than 1Mt/yr. Galikesh cement factory, which employs some 210 workers and cost about USD165m, has the capacity to produce more than 3,400t/day.