Cement News tagged under: cement prices

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Malayan Cement Bhd on course for profits in 2020

07 November 2019, Published under Cement News

Malayan Cement Bhd is likely to turn a profit from 2020 onwards by reducing operating costs and implementing a cost rationalisation  initiative which began in 1H19, according to a research house. In the 1H19 Malayan Cement's net loss fell by 45 per cent YoY to MYR80.5m (US$19.4m) and while revenue was  down six per cent, operating costs declined by 12 per cent. The company has since benefitted from improved cement prices, up from MYR210 to MYR230/t in October. Analyst Affin Hwang Capit...

Uganda sees big drop in cement prices

17 October 2019, Published under Cement News

Uganda has seen increased competition and lower cement prices with the entry of Simba Cement (National Cement – Devki Group) and Kampala Cement. A 50kg bag now retails at an average price of UGX28,000 (US$5.70), down from UGX39,000 (US$10.80). While Hima Cement (LafargeHolcim)and Tororo Cement remain the dominant players, competition has been accelerated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives' measures to fast-track licensing of new cement manufacturers.

Cement prices fall in Bangladesh

11 October 2019, Published under Cement News

Key building materials such as cement and steel rods have recorded a price decline in Bangladesh over the last three months on the back of sluggish demand, according to local traders. The demand for construction work has been negatively impacted by the monsoon season. As such, the price of cement has fallen by BDT40-50/50kg bag (US$0.47-0.59/50kg bag) when compared to prices in July. "Each 50kg bag of cement is now selling at between BDT420 and BDT460, depending on the brands," said Kh...

India's average cement prices rise in September

09 October 2019, Published under Cement News

All-India average cement prices increased around 3.2 per cent YoY to INR305-310/50kg bag (US$4.29-4.36/50kg bag) in September 2019. In particular, the improvement was led by a recovery in southern India which saw prices rise by 1.9 per cent YoY and 4.8 per cent MoM. While average cement prices in the trade segment remained broadly resilient in September 2019, demand momentum was negatively impacted by a protracted monsoon season and a slowdown in government spending, according to Business...

Sri Lankan minister deplores political border tax policy on cement

18 September 2019, Published under Cement News

Sri Lanka's finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera, has spoken out against the country's cement prices being higher than more developed markets in south Asia, requesting that the border tax policy needs to be depoliticised to benefit consumers. "Our export sector has been crippled by para-tariffs caused by businessmen influencing politicians," Mr Samaraweera told the opening of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit. "This has also led to large increases in prices. For example, last...

Retail cement price in El Salvador fell in August

12 September 2019, Published under Cement News

The price for a 42.5kg bag of cement sold by retailers in San Salvador, El Salvador, fell to US$8.32/bag in August, according to Casalco, the country’s construction chamber. The drop represents the second-consecutive month of declining cement prices. In July and June, the price for a bag of cement was US$8.39 and US$8.45, respectively, after edging up from US$8.42 in May. Meanwhile, the ex-works cement price has remained stable at US$7.57/bag.

Cement prices rise in China due to demand from construction sector

12 September 2019, Published under Cement News

On 9 September, the construction of 10 major projects started in southwest China's Guizhou province, representing a total investment of CNY68.53bn (US$9.62bn). As a result, cement prices in some areas of Guizhou have seen an average increase of CNY60/t since August. Elsewhere, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Henan and Shandong provinces, as well as the autonomous region of Guangxi, have recorded a price increase of around CNY20-40/t. "The country's cement prices have maintained at mor...

Malaysian infrastructure demand to escalate cement price rises

11 September 2019, Published under Cement News

Malaysia's building materials are expected to se a price rise in the 3Q19 as large construction projects hike up demand for products such as cement. The construction industry is expected to pick up this quarter on infrastructure projects, including the East Coast Rail Link, brokerage analyst Abdul Hadi Manaf noted. "As such, we believe that demand for cement and steel should also recover at a gradual pace," he said. Cement costs could go up by 10 per cent to MYR220/t (US$52/t) in the four...

Cement prices in Punjab rise after trade suspension

03 September 2019, Published under Cement News

After the suspension of trade between India and Pakistan on 10 August, the price of cement in Punjab has increased by almost INR100/bag (US$1.38/bag), according to the Hindustan Times. Therefore, the price of a cement bag has risen from INR260-275 to INR360-375. "Since Pakistan suspended trade with India, comparatively cheaper Pakistani cement has triggered a price rise in the domestically manufactured cement," said MPS Chatha, president of the All India Cement Importers Association. Befo...

DTI reports that cement prices remain stable

30 August 2019, Published under Cement News

Cement prices in the Philippines are holding firm despite some rumours of cement shortages, says the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Consumer Protection Division and Provisional Office (DTI). The wholesale price of a 40kg bag of cement is being sold at around PHP222 (US$4.26) and the retail price is being set at around PHP230-235. In January 2019, the DTI reported that retail prices of cement ranged from PHP220-230 in Bulacan, PHP220-250 in Nueva Ecija, PHP227-240 in Batan, PHP230...