By JAMES KUNDA –

ZAMBEZI Portland Cement (ZPC) posted an increase of more than 22,000 tonnes in annual production at the end of 2013, depicting a growth rate of 5 per cent when compared to 2012.
ZPC sales and marketing manager Isaac Ngoma said the company produced 474,906 tonnes of cement in 2013 compared to the 452,220 tonnes of the commodity in 2012.
The difference of 22,686 tonnes in production depicts a growth rate of five per cent over the two years under review.
He said in the first two months of 2014, ZPC in Ndola has posted a 25 per cent production growth compared to the same period in 2013.
“Cement production for January and February of 2014 is 69,998 tonnes compared to 56,189 tonnes in January and February of 2013, depicting a 25 per cent increase in production in this period,” Mr Ngoma said.
He said the company has fared well in terms of cement production this year as figures have risen steadily compared to the same period last year.
Mr Ngoma said demand for the Zambezi Portland cement product had remained fairly high even at this time of the year, which is normally associated with poor sales, owing to heavy rains.
He said the performance of the ZPC product on both the local and foreign markets had been very good.
“Significant gains in the market share have been posted resulting in the product having a firm footprint even in hitherto untapped markets,” he said.
Mr Ngoma said ZPC has earmarked expansion projects for the year 2014 and the company would increase its mining and sales of aggregate products to meet the ever growing demand in this sector.
He said the company further intends to extend its product range in the areas of block making, paving blocks and the manufacturing of railway slippers.