Kenya’s cement production at highest level ever

Construction workers build a bridge on a Nairobi road. The region’s cement demand is high as countries invest in infrastructure. Photo/FILE  Nation Media Group

 

By Xinhua

In Summary

• Kenya is producing about 400,000 metric tonnes of cement per month.
• Kenya’s cement production has been on a steady rise in the past 12 months, hitting 373,916 in October last year — the highest the country has ever produced.

A surge in activities in Kenya’s real estate sector has boosted the country’s cement and iron sheet production.

Kenya is producing about 400,000 metric tonnes of cement per month.

At the beginning of 2012, production stood at about 300,000 metric tonnes, increasing by close to 100,000 metric tonnes as at the end of the year, according to a new report from Kenya National Bureau Statistics.

The report titled, Leading Economic Indicators notes that Kenya’s cement production has been on a steady rise in the past 12 months, hitting 373,916 in October last year — the highest the country has ever produced.

In January 2012, production stood at 318,000 metric tonnes of cement, rising to 345,000 metric tonnes in February and 360,000 metric tonnes in August.

The KNBS report also notes that the country’s current consumption stands at an average of 300,000 metric tonnes of cement per month.

Cement consumption in January last year stood at 240,261 metric tonnes, rising to 297,028 in February. In March, Kenya’s cement consumption was 301,312 metric tonnes and as at October, consumption stood at 293,571 metric tonnes.

The cement production and consumption boom has been consistent in Kenya since 2011. That year, production hit 4 million metric tonnes while consumption stood at 3.4 million metric tonnes, according to KNBS.

In 2010, production was 3.7 million metric tonnes while consumption stood at 3.1 million metric tonnes.

The boom in the real estate sector has also influenced production of galvanised iron sheets, which are used in roofing. Kenya currently produces an average of 20,000 metric tonnes of galvanised iron sheets per month.

The report indicated that in the capital alone, the Nairobi City Council approves an average of 320 building plans per month, both for residential and non-residential units. This is out of an average of 15,000 building plans, which are presented to the council per month.

August last year saw the highest number of plans presented to the council, which stood at 21,460. That month, the council approved 336 plans, which were 107 for residential buildings, and 234 for commercial buildings.

In September, 21,307 plans were submitted for approval. However, the council approved 136 plans for residential buildings and 203 for commercial units. The total value of the buildings stood at $3.9 million.

This means that the real estate sector in Kenya’s capital expands at an average of $4 million per month.

The statistics bureau identifies the building and construction sector as one of key industries in Kenya’s economy.