Rapid Infrastructure Expansion Strengthens Outlook of Southern African Cement Industry, Finds Frost & Sullivan

• Investments will amount to $940 million between 2013 and 2018 across South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Sept. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapid infrastructure development in South Africa and its neighbouring countries will brighten the prospects of the cement industry in the Southern African region. In fact, cement production is instrumental in government expenditure plans, especially the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) which will be rolled out by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) over the next 15 years.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.industrialautomation.frost.com), Southern African Cement Industry Production and Investment Forecasts, analyses whether self-sufficiency is an achievable task for Southern Africa's cement producers, and also whether capital investments will realise a positive return-on-investment (ROI) for the region's existing and future cement suppliers. The study, which focuses on South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, also finds that investments in the cement industry will amount to $940 million between 2013 and 2018 across the three countries.

"Higher government spending on public infrastructure, such as the construction of new energy and power facilities, as well as the expansion of transportation infrastructure, will boost the need for cement in Southern Africa," saidFrost & Sullivan Industrial Automation and Process Control Research Analyst Yeukayi Kadzere.

Cement production stood at 14.9 million tonnes in 2012 and is expected to reach 18.1 million tonnes in 2018 – owing to the addition of new cement manufacturing plants in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. By 2018, these projects will increase cement production capacity by another 5.1 million tonnes.

While on the one hand production is rising, the costs associated with production are also escalating as a result of soaring electricity and fuel prices. Cement producers in the Southern African region, therefore, are struggling to keep costs to a minimum in order to maximise profit. Pricing pressures are further intensified by each participant's attempt to remain competitive by keeping cement prices down.

"Manufacturers can potentially charge higher prices to improve profitability by exporting cement products to neighbouring countries that have an enormous demand but little supply," prescribed Kadzere. "Targeting markets as close to their depots as possible will minimise distribution costs and increase the profits of cement producers in the region."

If you are interested in more information on this research, please send an e-mail to Samantha James, Corporate Communications, at samantha.james@frost.com, with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.

Southern African Cement Industry Production and Investment Forecasts is part of the Industrial Automation & Process Control Growth Partnership Service program. Frost & Sullivan's related research services include: West African Cement Industry Production and Investment Forecast, Production and Investment Forecasts of the Platinum Mining Industry in Southern Africa, Production and Investment Forecasts in Southern Africa's Steel Industry, Production and Investment Forecasts in West Africa's Iron Ore Mining Industry, and Automation and Control Solutions Market in Sub-Saharan Africa's Power Sector—An Analysis of the Top 3 Countries. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.