Mombasa-based firm Milly Glass Works Limited is lining up a Sh330.36 million pharmaceutical glass bottles plant, marking an expansion from its traditional soft drinks and spirits bottles as it seeks to tap the regional market.

The planned plant, to be developed by its affiliate Milly Glass SEZ Ltd, will be located on six hectares within the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mombasa County. The firm targets to produce 290,000 tonnes of bottles annually.

The firm says the expansion into specialised glass packaging reflects the rising demand for high-quality packaging within the pharmaceutical sector in East and Central Africa, where local manufacturing capacity remains limited.

The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report shows the project will leverage advantages such as proximity to the Port of Mombasa, the Standard Gauge Railway and Moi International Airport, and a growing road network, making it ideal for an export-oriented manufacturing model.

“The project proponent proposed the development facility based on market analysis of demand growth of pharmaceutical glass bottles and the opportunity to construct a new facility that will strengthen their existing glass bottle manufacturing facility in Mombasa,” reads the ESIA report.

The firm explained that the proposed plant would produce type III glass amber coloured pharmaceutical glass bottles, which are used for storing, protecting, and transporting medicine. The bottles are used for liquids, tablets, capsules, vaccines, and parenteral (injectable) preparations.

Amber bottles protect pharmaceuticals by blocking harmful ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, preventing the chemical breakdown of light-sensitive medicines.

The East African Community Regional Pharmaceutical Plan of Action 2017–2027 showed Kenyan manufacturers held 30 percent of the over $1 billion (Sh129 billion) of the Kenyan pharmaceutical market, presenting an untapped opportunity for investors.

Many pharmaceutical manufacturers rely heavily on imports for glass packaging. The Mombasa-based firm aims to use the plant to shorten supply chains, cut costs for regional manufacturers and position itself as a reliable domestic supplier.

Setting up the plant in a special economic zone positions the firm to benefit from tax and duty incentives aimed at boosting industrialisation and exports.

Construction is projected to generate up to 800 direct and indirect jobs, while operations will create around 280 permanent positions, with a preference for sourcing labour locally.

Kenya's glass manufacturing sector is growing, driven by rising demand in construction, beverage packaging, and specialised architectural applications. The industry is dominated by major players like Milly Glass Works Ltd, Ardagh Glass Packaging Kenya Limited, and Impala Glass.

Demand for container glass is projected to reach 147 thousand tonnes by 2030. This is driven by the brewery and packaging industries, according to estimates by Milly Glass.

palushula@ke.nationmedia.com