TEHRAN - Iran's cement exports have grown by 12 percent in nearly two years, according to figures from Iran's Cement Industry Producers Association

Ali-Akbar Alvandian, head of the association, said on Saturday that Iran had exported 10.5 million metric tons (mt) of cement in the first nine months of the calendar year 1402 (March 21-December 21, 2023).

As reported, 13 million mt of cement had been exported in 1401, he added.

Alvandian noted that Iran produces about 90 million mt of cement annually, of which 60 million mt is consumed domestically.

According to the official, the cement production in the country has also increased by 12 percent since the current government administration took office in 2021.

There are currently 13 semi-finished projects in the country, he said, adding that the production of white cement will increase by over 8.8 million mt if they become operational.

Iranian cement is exported to 25 countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Syria.

Iran produced 63 million tons of cement in 2021 to be ranked the world’s seventh biggest cement producer, IRIB reported citing international statistics.

The Islamic Republic was ranked the world’s fifth biggest cement producer in 2020, producing 69 million tons of the product.

The Iranian cement industry has a history of more than eight decades of activity.

Currently, there are 96 cement production lines active in 74 factories across Iran, and nearly half of them are less than 10 years old. This is an indication that new production units have a greater share of the total output in this sector.

Neighboring countries are not only consumers of Iranian cement but also demand the transfer of the cement industry’s technology to their countries.

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