Kenya’s cement consumption growth falls

Cement production also declined, said the statistics bureau, hampering growth in the country’s manufacturing sector, which grew by just 1.9% in the quarter compared to 3.3% the year before. Imports of construction materials also declined.

The cement sector slowdown comes on the back of a contraction in construction sector growth, which grew by 9.3% in 3Q16 from 15.6% in 3Q15. According to the statistics bureau, this was “partly on account of a considerable reduction in civil works of the standard gauge railway from Mombasa to Nairobi.”

The Mombasa-to-Nairobi line is the biggest infrastructure project in Kenya since independence, according to railway-technology.com, a news website covering the rail industry. The 609 km line will reduce travel time between the two cities from more than 10 hours to less than four.

Overall, the Kenyan economy Is estimated to have expanded by 5.7% in 3Q15, a small drop from the 6% growth seen in 3Q15. Key macroeconomic indicators remain stable, however, the statistics bureau said.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/05012017/kenyas-cement-consumption-growth-falls/