Iraq seeks bids for three cement plant projects amid production surge
Submission deadline set for 23 June 2026 as state producer reports double-digit growth at key plants, though regional conflict casts uncertainty over long-term demand.
The government-owned Iraq Cement State Company (ICSC) has issued a tender inviting Iraqi and Arab investors, alongside specialised cement plant development firms, to bid for three major infrastructure projects. The submission deadline for all bids is 23 June 2026, marking a significant push to expand domestic production capacity despite ongoing regional instability.
The tender scope encompasses two new Portland cement plants, each designed with a daily capacity of 6,000 tonnes. The first facility is slated for development in the Kufa quarries area within the Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf Governorate, while the second will be constructed in the Mosul district of the Nineveh Governorate. These projects aim to bolster the nation’s industrial output in key western and northern regions.
In addition to the new builds, the third project involves expanding the existing Hadbaa cement plant, also located in the Mosul district. This expansion requires the establishment of a new dry-process, gas-fuelled production line with a capacity of 3,200 tonnes per day. The new line must be capable of producing ordinary and resistant Portland cement suitable for dam filling, incorporating standard components such as a raw mill, preheater, precalciner, rotary kiln, and clinker cooler.
The push for expansion comes as state-owned production figures show robust growth. In February, Iraq’s state-owned cement producers output more than 676,000 tonnes, with key facilities posting double-digit increases compared to 2025 levels. According to a statement by ICSC director general Awad Kazem Abd Al-Amir in April, the Kubaisa plant saw production rise by 37 per cent, while the Qaim and Sinjar plants increased output by 17 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.
However, the long-term outlook for cement demand remains clouded by geopolitical tensions. The regional conflict triggered by US and Israeli bombings of Iran on 28 February has significantly impacted Iraq’s energy sector and wider economy, disrupting various projects and creating uncertainty regarding future industrial activity. Prior to these developments, Beijing-based Sinoma had secured a contract in February for engineering, procurement, and construction work on a 6,000-tonne-per-day line in Basra for Iraq’s Nargis Group, highlighting continued interest from international players in the Iraqi market.
