Athi River Mining says new clinker plant to boost profit margins

ARM Managing Director, Pradeep Paunrana. [PHOTO:FILE]

Athi River Mining (ARM) Cement expects profitability to improve now that it produces its own clinker for its East African cement plants, the firm’s managing director has said.

ARM Cement, East Africa’s second biggest producer after Bamburi cement, posted a pre-tax loss of Sh473.5 million ($4.5 million) in the first six months, which the firm blamed on unrealised foreign exchange losses associated with borrowing for its new clinker plant, a vital raw material for cement.