Egypt's cement supply set to double

Egypt’s cement supply is set to double by the end of this month to meet the rising local demand for the material, the Trade Ministry said on Tuesday.

The Middle Eastern country imported 512,000 tonnes from January to August 5 and this figure is expected to rise to 1 million tonnes before September 1.

Last week, the ministry warned cement producers not to carry out any work that would cut production in the coming period.

Minister of Trade and Industry advisor Hisham Ragab said that Suez Cement, one of Egypt's largest cement makers, has postponed planned maintenance work in order to continue producing at full capacity,

“Following the Minister's decrees about the facilitation of cement importation to increase its supply and meet the increasing local demand on it, Suez Cement Group reported having signed agreements to import a quantity of 90,000 tonnes of clinker bagged cement during August," said Minister of Trade and Industry advisor Hisham Ragab.

The news comes in line with the soaring demand for housing in Egypt. And, the immediate need for cement prompted the ministry to extend a ban on exporting the building material, first introduced in April, until October 2010.