Kazakhstan’s cement makers took advantage of favourable exchange rates to more than double exports in 1H17 from 0.16 million t to 0.45 million t, according to Steppe Cement. Shipments from Kazakhstani producers rose 5% as a result, despite a 1% contraction in the country’s domestic cement market.
Steppe Cement exported 11% of its sales, compared with just 4% in 2016, as its share of the Kazakhstan market fell to 15% from 18% in 1H16. Overall the company sold 0.65 million t of cement, compared with 0.76 million in the first six months of last year, as it concentrated on improving pricing.
Ex-factory price for the current period was KZT13 151 per tonne (US$40.4 per tonne), compared with KZT 10 751 per tonne (US$33.0 per tonne) in 2016, the company said. This resulted in a 4% improvement in turnover, despite the lower volumes, to KZT8.6 million (US$26.3 million).
Steppe Cement estimates Kazakhstan’s cement consumption will be 9 million t this year.