Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement’s sales volumes rose by 6% year-on-year to 762,000t in the first half of 2016 from 718,000 in the same period of 2015. However, its sales revenue fell slightly to US$24m from US$25m. The cement producer also reported that its local market share increased to 18% in the first half of 2016 from 16% and it exported 4% of its sales compared to 0% in 2015.
The cement market in Kazakhstan decreased by 10% during the first half of 2016 compared to the same period of 2015. However overall cement shipments from local companies remained stable compared to 2015 as imports decreased by 63% (representing 5% of the local market) and exports doubled due to the favourable exchange rate against the currencies of surrounding countries. Steppe Cement estimates that national consumption will be around 9Mt in 2016.