Cement Industry News  

Lafarge’s Ukrainian production plans

Lafarge could begin construction of its second cement plant in Ukraine in 2010, commercial director of

Second line launched at Atchinsky Cement

The Atchinsky Cement plant, a part of Basel Cement Group, has launched its second kiln line.

Romanian market sees decline

The Romanian cement market is expected to decline in 2009 for the first time in three years,

Thailand’s Cement: local demand still weakening

Domestic Thai cement sales in May 09 contracted 13% YoY to 2.05Mt, a sequential weakening from the

Bulgaria’s antitrust watchdog probe

The Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) has launched a probe into the Bulgarian cement

Cement plans for Kenya’s Pokot District

A cement producer from India plans to transform the economy of Pokot Central District, once its new

US construction spending down 0.9% in May

US construction spending fell by 0.9 percent in May, the seventh decrease in the past eight months,

India Aditya Birla cement shipments up 21.7 per cent

India’s Aditya Birla Group said on Wednesday cement shipments in June rose 21.7 per cent to 3.14Mt.

GCC cement production to outstrip demand

Cement production in the GCC will exceed demand by almost 15 per cent in 2009 with largest additions

India’s Ambuja June cement shipments rise 8.2 per cent

Ambuja Cements Ltd, India’s No. 3 cement maker, on Wednesday reported June shipments rose

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Trading   

Cemex buys port in Louisiana

Cemex has reportedly purchased a port terminal in Louisiana from Spanish producer Uniland to ship and

East Africa: cheaper imports flood East Africa market

Cement makers in East Africa are threatened with closure following an upsurge in cheaper imports from Asia and the Middle East.

Nigeria: 7Mt of cement begin to arrive ports

Nigerians may begin to expect fall in the price of cement as part of the 7Mt of bagged cement approved for importation by the Federal government

Cyprus halts aid boats bound for Gaza Strip

Cyprus stopped two boats planning to carry aid to the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli blockade from

Local cement makers fear dumping by foreign manufacturers

Local Philippine cement makers are appealing the recommendation of the technical committee on tariff and related matters (TRM) to extend the elimination

Cement producers issue petition

Kenyan Cement manufacturers have raised the red flag over the influx of cheaply imported cement that is flooding the local market.

Pakistan: cement exports rise to US$750 million

The cement industry, despite being affected by the global economic crisis, has managed to boost exports to US$750m in fiscal year 2008-09.

India: Industry wants service tax cut to eight per cent

Although a large section of the industry has expressed its wishlist for the general Budget, a review of service tax tops the demand with several quarter petitioning reduction in the rate

India: cement industry for restoring import duty

The cement industry has urged the finance minister to levy uniform excise duty on packaged cement and to restore import duty on the product in the forthcoming budget.

Algeria to import 1Mt of cement to counteract market speculation

The Algerian government will import 1mn tonnes of cement to counteract the speculation in the national market,

Freight Markets   

Dry bulk rates lose some upward momentum

Despite a weekly loss on all the dry bulk indices, brokers say there is no evidence yet of a full-scale correction, and with

Steeling oneself for market realities

Continued volatility in the ocean freight sectors marks the day to day progression of the Baltic Dry Index

Some green shoots among the gloom

While the Baltic Index for larger units has declined slightly in the opening days of March and market interest in both the Atlantic and Pacific basins has been somewhat muted for such ships

No cure in sight for current market malaise

While the Cape shipping sector has been showing a modest rebound over the past two weeks, lower down the scale the reality is one of continuing bargain basement prices, despite some evidence of incr

That was the year that was!

As the year comes to a close, it is worth reflecting on a few statistics from the past twelve months since the market highs achieved in May and June, time charter averages for the four main bulk secto

Markets continue on downward spiral

While the Cape-size sector offered a degree of comfort to owners in early December, especially with the Baltic Capesize index posting some useful gains, this shift has not as yet translated into any p

Baltic Dry Index keeps on dropping throughout October

Late October saw the all important Baltic Dry Index trading below 1000 points. The continuous slump has seen the index dropping to 982 points, from an all-time high of 11,793 points last May.

Markets in freefall

With the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) falling throughout the month and accelerating rapidly as we enter October, all indications point to a

A good first half, but what lies ahead?

While shipowners may be congratulating themselves on a successful first half year in 2008, profits buoyed by further significant gains in iron ore and coal trades in the dry bulk sectors and some lucr

Pakistan Cement Factory asked to control pollution

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency has directed a cement factory in Chakwal district to take remedial measures or stop pollution causing activities in the close vicinity of lush green Kalar Ka

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Corporate   

HVB controls 6.4 per cent of HeidelbergCement

Unicredit’s German unit HVB holds a 6.4 percent stake in HeidelbergCement AG as part of a

HeidelbergCement puts Irvine Whitlock up for sale

Brickwork contractor Irvine Whitlock is being put up for sale as part of the break-up of the Hanson’s

Vietnam cement firm plans share offer to raise capital

Bim Son Cement Joint Stock Company (BCC) has passed a plan to offer unsold shares from 2008 to raise

Not much value in merging with UltraTech: Grasim

Grasim Industries, the leading cement maker of the A V Birla group, is not enthusiastic at a proposal to

Cemex presents bank debt refinancing plan

Cemex said it’s in the process of presenting a refinancing plan to its core bank creditors that seeks to reschedule US$14.5bn in debt through 2014.

CNBM acquires stakes in 10 cos from parent

China National Building Material Co made successful bids to acquire stakes in 10 cement companies from

BK Birla targets 50% stake in group companies

Basant Kumar Birla intends to scale up promoter’s holding in group companies to at least 50 % over the next three years.

Czech Republic: Lafarge Cement to use CZK379m profit for dividend

Czech cement maker Lafarge Cement will use last year’s CZK379.4m (€14.6m or US$20.4m) profit for dividend payment

India’s Grasim may absorb UltraTech unit

India’s Grasim Industries plans to absorb its unit UltraTech Cement, to consolidate the group’s cement business under one arm,

CRH announces non-executive board appointment

The Board of CRH plc announced the co-option to the Board today, 24 June 2009, of John W Kennedy, as a non-executive Director.

Environmental   

Cement firms slow CO2 emissions despite production growth

Efforts by the world’s leading cement companies knocked down carbon dioxide emissions from the

Lafarge Dunbar plant ’unsatisfactory’ environmental score

Lafarge Dunbar is the only industrial plant in the Lothians to receive an ‘unsatisfactory’ score in the

California cement plant to utilise biomass

Mitsubishi Cement in Lucerne Valley, California, has acquired a Rawlings Manufacturing Wood Hog, enabling it to use both coal and biomass

North Carolina bill seeking to delay cement plant pulled, US

A bill that would seek to delay the opening of a cement plant near Wilmington has been delayed by

Northern Ireland: derelict quarry to get UK£100m harbour village makeover

A derelict quarry is to be transformed into an environmentally friendly harbour village under a UK£100m (€117.2m) development plan approved today.

Dominican President to consult the UN on controversial cement plants

President Leonel Fernandez announced yesterday that he requested of the United Nations Environment Program,

USA: no vote on last-minute cement plant legislation

It looks as if Titan America’s plans for a new cement plant in Castle Hayne will continue

USA: California weighs global warming fees on producers

California air regulators on Thursday will consider leveling the nation’s first statewide carbon fee on utilities,

USA: fight over ABQ cement plant comes to a head

Tonight the city of Albuquerque has scheduled a public information hearing to hear concerns about whether a North Valley cement company

USA: Texas sues Mexico cement maker Cemex for US$558m

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said on Tuesday he filed a suit against Mexican cement maker Cemex

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Recent Orders   

MPS coal mill for THE KCP Limited, India

Only a few weeks after GEBR. PFEIFFER AG, Germany, and its Indian subsidiary Gebr. Pfeiffer (India)

Orascom Construction Industries wins US$168m government contracts

Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) won two government contracts worth US$168mn for road-building and sewage treatment projects,

KCP Limited chooses FLSmidth Automation

KCP Limited chooses FLSmidth Automation India as their supplier for plant

Brazil: Cimpor invests clinker transportation

Brazilian logistics giant América Latina Logística (ALL) and Cimpor have signed a contract for the

New order for Siemens

The Siemens Industry Solutions Division of Siemens AE Greece has won an order from the Cypr

Sinoma signs EPC contract with Sephaku, South Africa

Sinoma International Engineering Company Limited (Nanjing, Jiangsu) a subsidiary of China National

ABB’s Expert Optimizer now optimizing over 200 kilns

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, announced today that the installation of their Expert

New order for FLSmidth in Peru

FLSmidth has been awarded a contract by YURA S.A. for a new 4200tpd pyroprocessing line for its

Lafarge NA selects CPower

CPower announced that it has been selected by Lafarge North America to manage the company’s energy

New order for Bedeschi, Nigeria

Sinoma of China has commissioned Bedeschi the supply of two limestone storages and two shale storage