Opportunities for cement industry in Pakistan

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) gives positive prospects to the cement industry, reports The Tribune.

Pakistan, with its lower-than-average per-capita cement consumption has immense potential for the cement industry. The country continues to lag behind in housing and infrastructure, with the government trying to alter that reality.

Currently, domestic growth is growing between 8 to 9 percent per annum, with expectations to start growing above the 10 percent mark. The largest cement-maker in Pakistan is Bestway Cement, a subsidiary of Bestway Group UK. In 2015, its 8 million tons production represented a 17 percent market share. The group exports mainly to Afghanistan and India

Right now, only 80 percent of the industry's capacity is being used. CPEC, an USD 46 billion deal, is likely to bring significant direct and indirect long-term economic benefits for Pakistan in general, with the cement industry obviously included.