Baku, Azerbaijan, April 2
By Gazenfer Hamidov – Trend:
The decreasing trend of Iran’s cement industry continued last fiscal year (ended March 2018), according to the Iranian Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade.
Iranian cement factories produced 49.697 million tons of cement during the first 11 months of last fiscal year (March 20, 2017-Feb. 20, 2018), a fall by 1.8 percent year-on-year.
On a monthly basis, 3.92 million tons of cement were produced in the 11th Iranian calendar month (Jan. 20-Feb. 20), 2.4 percent less compared to the preceding month.
Iran’s ISNA news agency cited the country’s industry ministry that the output decrease occurred due to demand fall in construction market and export decrease as well as gas shortage.
Iran's cement sector is facing various problems, including deep recession in construction activities and an inadequate provision of natural gas to industrial users as well as a considerable export fall due to global slump in oil prices and regional issues.
Iran produced 54.1 million tons of cement in the fiscal year to March 2017, 6.6 percent less year-on-year.
According to Iran’s industry ministry data, the output of Iran’s tile and ceramic industry increased by 17.3 percent during the first 11 months of the last fiscal year.
The country produced 342 million square meters of tile and ceramic in the 11-month period.
Iran produced 32 million square meters of tiles and ceramics in the 11th calendar month (Jan. 20-Feb. 20), 4.3 percent less compared to the preceding month.
The country’s tiles and ceramics output amounted to 292.5 million square meters during the preceding fiscal year (ended March 20, 2017), 4.4 percent less year-on-year.
Iranian officials have earlier announced that the country’s tile and ceramic industry’s nominal production capacity stands at 700 million square meters per year.
The officials have also said that 133 manufacturing units are active in tile and ceramic production nationwide.
Iran also produced 900,900 tons of glass in the 11-month period, 21.1 percent more year-on-year.
The Iranian manufacturers produced 93,300 tons of sanitary wares in the period as well, 21.6 percent more year-on-year.
