According to local press, Nepal has an estimated 1.07 billion t of limestone deposits. Drawing on figures from the country’s Economic Survey 2013/14, around 540 million t of this is proven reserves, 110 million t is semi-proven and there is a potential 420 million t to exploit. Much of the limestone is utilised by the country’s cement industry, which currently comprises 13 plants.
Nepal’s manufacturing production is expected to increase by more than 14% y/y overall in 3Q of 2013/2014, including a projected rise in cement output. In March 2014, the cost of manufacturing products grew by just under 6% y/y, while the price of construction materials increased by 6.7% y/y.
Edited from various sources by Louise Fordham