Oman's Al Anwar Ceramic tiles plans to increase production capacity by 100 per cent. The company sold 1.29 million sq m of ceramic tiles valued at RO1.8 million during the first six months this year.

The company's factory operated at 119 per cent capacity and produced 2.38 million sq m of tiles with a total value exceeding RO3 million, said Khalfan bin Mohammed Al Subali, managing director. Exports were to GCC countries, Yemen, Sudan, Tanzania, Bangladesh and South Africa.

Al Anwar has secured a purchase order to supply tiles to a major housing project in Jebel Ali in the UAE. The project involves construction of 4,000 villas.

In September 2000 a new line was added for the production of floor and wall decorative tiles at a rate of 8,000 sq m per day. Al Subali said the company board had approved a plan to increase capacity by 100 per cent. He said production covered 35 per cent of domestic requirements.