Displaying items by tag: Capacity

India: NCL Industries has commissioned its new cement grinding plant at Thallapalem, near Anakapalle. The greenfield facility was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma. It adds 660,000t/yr to the company’s total cement capacity, now at 4Mt/yr. Built at an estimated cost of US$28m, the 16-hectare plant will produce ‘eco-friendly’ cement and create around 250 direct and indirect jobs, according to The Times of India. The plant features vertical roller mills supplied by Loesche and will be powered by a 5MW captive solar plant currently under construction.

Vice chair K Ravi said “This facility reinforces our commitment to operational efficiency, product quality and customer trust. With this addition, we are well-positioned to meet rising demand and support India’s infrastructure growth with reliable building materials.”

Uzbekistan: The Uzpromstroymaterialy Association reported that national cement production was 18Mt between January and September 2025, up by 28% year-on-year. Total installed capacity is now 40.5Mt/yr across 42 enterprises, an increase of 0.7Mt/yr from 2024. The rise in production of high-quality grades such as M-500 and M-600 cement led to an 89% decline in imports, which totalled 66,000t in the first nine months of 2025. Imports for the first half of 2025 were 38,000t, down by 91% from 2024.

Cement exports in the first nine months of 2025 were nearly 1.1Mt, almost four times higher than in the same period of 2024. The association said that the CIS free trade regime is supporting the expansion of foreign markets for Uzbek producers, while imports from CIS countries remain duty-free. It said that the competitiveness of domestic producers, their strong supply to the local market and rising export potential are strengthening Uzbekistan’s economic independence.

Afghanistan: Ghori Cement Factory in Baghlan has more than doubled its daily cement production from 250-300t to 700t, according to Shafiullah Wahidi, head of the plant. He said that both the first and second units are operating normally, while construction of the third unit is ‘progressing rapidly’. Wahidi said that a third unit will be completed within 18 months, at an estimated cost of US$86m, increasing the plant’s total production capacity to 5000t/day.

India: JK Cement has commissioned a new 1Mt/yr cement grinding facility at its Prayagraj works, raising the unit’s capacity from 2Mt/yr to 3Mt/yr and the company’s total grey cement capacity from 25.3Mt/yr to 26.3Mt/yr. The project forms part of JK Cement’s 6Mt/yr capacity expansion plan approved in January 2024, which includes brownfield projects in Panna, Hamirpur and Prayagraj, and a greenfield plant in Bihar.

Bangladesh: Most cement plants are operating at less than 30% capacity, far below the global benchmark of 70–80%, according to the Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA) via The Business Standard. National consumption fell to 38Mt in 2024, less than 40% of total capacity, and has declined further in 2025, forcing producers to cut output and lay off workers.

BCMA president Amirul Haque said “After Covid-19, we began recovering in 2021, driven by renewed construction. But since 2023, the situation has worsened drastically. Entrepreneurs expanded based on government demand. When projects slowed, we faced a severe cash flow crisis. Several small plants have already shut down.”

Bashundhara Cement, which has a capacity of 7.3Mt/yr, is reportedly running at 20% utilisation, while Mir Cement has reduced output to a quarter of capacity. Premier Cement is operating at around 40% capacity and Crown Cement has 60% of its capacity idle. Only Meghna Group of Industries reports growth, though utilisation remains 65%.

India: Aditya Birla Group subsidiary UltraTech Cement will invest US$1.23bn to grow its cement production capacity by 10% to 241Mt/yr. The company’s board has approved new plant projects and expansions amounting to 22.8Mt/yr of additional capacity, scheduled to begin coming online from the start of the 2028 financial year on 1 April 2027.

Chair Kumar Mangalam Birla said “The latest capacity expansion follows US$5.69bn invested in the past five years. The investment reflects the company’s confidence in the Indian economy and the scale of its infrastructure ambitions. When capital is deployed strategically, it energises ecosystems, deepens industrial linkages and creates durable employment. As India enters a transformative era of infrastructure and economic development, UltraTech is well-positioned to meet the rising demand for cement.”

Egypt: The government will issue two new cement plant licences before the end of 2025 to stabilise domestic prices and boost capacity to meet growing regional demand, according to Zawya news. The plan follows a recent meeting between cement producers and industry minister Kamel El-Wazir.

An unnamed official said “The two permits are expected to be released before the end of 2025, as each licence will include its own production line.”

The two plants will reportedly add 1.5-2Mt/yr to Egypt’s cement output. National demand is projected to rise to 52Mt by the end of 2025, up from 47Mt in 2024.

Egypt: Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir met with cement producers to discuss production trends, recent price declines, and ways to increase capacity and restart idle production lines, according to a ministry statement. The meeting forms part of the Ministry of Industry’s plan to enhance efficiency in the cement sector and ensure sufficient supply to the local market. Officials reviewed recent price movements, local production levels, and reasons for the shutdown of certain production lines, with a view to their reactivation, according to Zawya news. Cement manufacturers continue to submit monthly production reports to the General Authority for Industrial Development (IDA), including data on licensed capacities, actual output and exports. The review showed that several companies have the technical ability to exceed their currently licensed production limits.

In response, the IDA will study applications from these producers to expand permitted capacities, aiming to optimise resource use, increase supply and stabilise market prices. The meeting also addressed the causes of plant shutdowns, including spare part shortages and ongoing renovation of production units. Some companies are upgrading their systems to align with production and efficiency standards. El-Wazir reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting plants in overcoming technical or administrative obstacles and restoring full operational capacity. The meeting further discussed expanding the use of alternative fuels derived from agricultural and household waste to reduce production costs and environmental impact. Cement companies reportedly expressed interest in this transition, viewing it as a way to enhance competitiveness and sustainability.

Kazakhstan: Construction has begun on a US$222m cement plant in the Alginsky district of the Aktobe region, developed in partnership with West China Cement. The facility will have a production capacity of 2Mt/yr and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Around 1000 workers are reportedly engaged in site preparation, including laying utility lines and building a dormitory for personnel. Once operational, the plant will create approximately 500 permanent jobs, according to Kazakhstan Newsline.

Regional governor Askhat Shakharov, during a visit to the site, said that the project will play a key role in boosting the region’s industrial capacity and strengthening cooperation with China. “The implementation of this project will help reduce dependence on cement imports and supply the domestic market with building materials. The main thing is to conduct the construction according to the schedule and in compliance with all technological requirements,” he said.

India: JSW Cement, part of JSW Group, has commissioned a 1Mt/yr cement grinding unit at Sambalpur, Odisha, through its subsidiary Shiva Cement. The addition raises JSW’s total installed capacity to 21.6 Mt/yr. According to the company, the new facility will help meet rising cement demand in eastern India. The project was developed and financed by Shiva Cement under a commercial arrangement with Bhushan Power and Steel, and will produce cement exclusively for Shiva Cement’s use and consumption.

JSW Cement CEO Nilesh Narwekar said “The eastern region of the country is poised for exponential growth in the coming years. This new state-of-the-art facility in Sambalpur marks a significant milestone in our journey to expand and consolidate our position in this market,” he said.

JSW Cement currently operates seven manufacturing plants across India, including one integrated unit, one clinker plant and five grinding units.