Cement News tagged under: Colombia

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Biomass: fuel of the future

16 May 2024, Published under Cement News

The use of biomass is a significant step forward in the decarbonisation of the cement industry. The last decade has seen the introduction of a range of biomasses in the kilns of Cementos Argos, which sees it as a fuel of the future. By Mauricio Giraldo, Cementos Argos, Colombia Biomass provides a low- or zero-carbon fuel for the cement industry (© Cementos Argos) A s the first quarter of the 21st century is nearing its end, it is clear that human-induced climate change has...

Colombian market contracts 19% in March

16 May 2024, Published under Cement News

Cement dispatches in Colombia fell 19.1 per cent YoY to 0.941Mt in March 2024 from 1.163Mt in March 2023, according to the nation’s statistics office, DANE. Bagged cement sales decreased by 20.2 per cent YoY while bulk cement sales were down 16.8 per cent YoY in March 2024. The retail sector saw the largest contraction by 9.1 per YoY, followed by the construction companies and contractors segment (-4.2 per cent) and ready-mix concrete companies (-3.9 per cent). Other markets saw sales slip ...

CEMEX to use solar power for Caracolito plant

15 March 2024, Published under Cement News

CEMEX Colombia will source 42,865MWh of electricity per year for its Caracolita plant in Colima from Celsia's new 19.9MWac solar farm in Ibague upon commissioning of the new solar farm. The alternative power source will replace 25 per cent of the cement plant's electricity. "[S]upplying our main cement plant in Colombia with solar energy will be a decisive step in our strategy to take advantage of renewable sources for cement production in Colombia,” said Alejandro Ramirez, president of Ce...

Colombian cement market contracts 4% in January

06 March 2024, Published under Cement News

Cement dispatches in Colombia declined 4.2 per cent YoY to 0.891Mt in January 2024 when compared with 0.93Mt dispatched in January 2023, reports the country’s statistics office, DANE. The decrease was attributed by DANE to a drop in sales in Norte de Santander (-38.9 per cent YoY), Valle del Cauca (-11.7 per cent) and Atlántico (-12.4 per cent). Bagged cement sales declined by six per cent YoY with decreases in dispatches in Norte de Santander (-32.9 per cent), Valle del Cauca (-13.2 per c...

Argos' adjusted EBITDA totals COP672bn in 4Q23

22 February 2024, Published under Cement News

For the fourth quarter of 2023, Argos ' adjusted EBITDA stood at COP676bn (US$172.2m), increasing 12   per cent compared to 4Q22. The results were driven by strong pricing dynamics, especially in the US, combined with cost efficiencies in both Colombia and the US. Adjusted EBITDA margin stood at 23.2 per cent for the quarter, increasing 393 basis points versus 2022 on a comparable basis.  In terms of volumes, total cement dispatches reached 3.8Mt, with a contraction of 2.3 per cent, caus...

Colombian cement dispatches fall to 12.9Mt in 2023

07 February 2024, Published under Cement News

Cement dispatches in Colombia slipped by 2.6 per cent to 1.093Mt in December 2023 from 1.122Mt in December 2022, according to the country’s statistics agency, DANE. Of this total, bulk deliveries declined by 5.2 per cent while bagged cement dispatches were down 1.4 per cent. While retail sales increased 2.5 per cent YoY in December 2023, ready-mix concrete companies and the construction and contractor segment reduced their off take by eight and 11.9 per cent, respectively. Output from do...

Colombia's cement market contracts 1% in November

03 January 2024, Published under Cement News

Cement dispatches in Colombia fell by 1.3 per cent YoY to 1.103Mt in November 2023 from 1.118Mt in the year-ago period, according to the country’s statistics office, DANE. Of this total, the retail sector reported a 2.5 per cent uptick, but ready-mix concrete companies reduced their off take by 4.2 per cent, and deliveries to construction companies and contractors were down by 6.1 per cent YoY. Bulk dispatches decreased by 3.7 per cent YoY while bagged cement deliveries slipped by 0.2 per ...

Colombia's cement market contracts 1% in October

08 December 2023, Published under Cement News

Cement dispatches in Colombia slipped 0.8 per cent YoY to 1.114Mt in October 2023 from 1.123Mt in October 2022, reported the country's statistics office, DANE. Of the total October 2023 dispatches, deliveries to construction companies and contractors were down seven per cent YoY, while ready-mix concrete companies reduced their off-take by 3.9 per cent. However, sales to the retail segment picked up by 2.6 per cent YoY. This was also reflected in a 0.6 per cent uptick in bagged sales while...

Argos records EBITDA of COP742bn in the 3Q23

10 November 2023, Published under Cement News

Argos reported that for the 3Q23 adjusted EBITDA stood at COP742bn (US$180.35m), increasing 25.4 per cent on a comparable basis versus 3Q22. The company's revenue in the 3Q23 slipped one per cent YoY to COP3087bn from COP3118bn in the year-ago period. The results were driven by strong pricing dynamics across all regions, combined with cost efficiencies. The adjusted EBITDA margin stood at 24 per cent for the quarter up from 19 per cent YoY. Cement dispatches reached 3.98Mt, with a contrac...

Colombia’s cement demand decreases 5% in September

08 November 2023, Published under Cement News

Cement consumption in Colombia declined 4.9 per cent to 1.131Mt in September 2023 from 1.19Mt in September 2022, according to DANE, the country’s statistics office. The Valle del Cauca market saw the largest contraction, by 18.8 per cent YoY, followed by Norte de Santander (-16.5 per cent), Caldas (-13.7 per cent) and Colima (-13.4 per cent). Meta, ear and Sucre were the only markets that showed growth – by 4.1, 2.1 and one per cent, respectively, in September 2023. Sales in the capital ma...