This report profiles Malaysia’s cement industry, discussing market trends through 2014 and outlook for 2015 and beyond. The report also highlights leading players in the sector including Lafarge Malayan Cement Berhad (Lafarge Malaysia), Tasek Corporation Berhad (Tasek) and Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMS).

The cement industry is one of the strategic industries of Malaysia, acting as the feeder to several other industries like real-estate, construction and infrastructure. The Malaysian cement industry has witnessed strong growth in demand during the last few years, thanks to government spending on infrastructure projects.

Going forward, cement demand is expected to continue its uptrend trajectory, driven mainly by the continued progress of government-led investments and key infrastructure projects coupled with the on-going residential and commercial developments. The 11th Malaysia Plan and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) will be the key drivers for the industry growth.

However, the major challenges faced by the industry are the rising raw material and transportation costs. The industry will also have to meet global pollution and emission standards which will take considerable amount of investment.

Key Points:

• Growth in cement demand is driving companies towards capacity expansion. West Malaysia leads in terms of integrated production capacity, accounting for around 91% of the total existing capacity, while East Malaysia accounts for 9%.

• During 2009-10, domestic annual consumption of cement experienced a slowdown. However, the industry saw a significant demand recovery during the last four years, growing at a CAGR of over 5%.

• The cement production index grew at a CAGR of 4.4% during 2009-13. The index grew by 6.6% y/y in 2014, exceeding its historical average. In 1HFY15, the index grew by 16% y/y.