International Cement Industry News  

Anhui Conch to build six new plants in China

Anhui Conch Cement Co, China’s largest cement producer by output, said Tuesday it plans to build six dry-process plants in China, which will cost at least CNY4.95bn (US$709.4m).

Indonesia April domestic cement sales up 28 per cent

Indonesia’s domestic cement sales growth jumped 28.2 per cent in April from a year ago to 3.08Mt.

Asia Cement: no major impact to Sichuan operations

Chinese cement maker Asia Cement (China) Holdings Corp said late Tuesday its plants in Sichuan were not seriously affected

Vietnam: tax exemption sought for clinker imports

The Vietnam Ministry of Construction has proposed the Ministry of Finance to consider cutting tax on clinker imports from ASEAN and non-ASEAN countries to 0%,

Titan Cement eyeing expansion in Balkans, Russia

Greece’s Titan Cement Co. SA is looking to expand in the Balkans and Russia, Greek financial daily Imerisia reports Tuesday.

Lafarge acquires 35 per cent stake in Algerian cement maker ERCC

Lafarge has acquired a 35 per cent stake in Algerian cement company ERCC, according to

Taiheiyo forecasts JPY2.5b 1H net loss next year

Taiheiyo Cement Corp forecast a half-year net loss of JPY2.5bn for next year, after decreasing net profit 16.1% to JPY20.5bn for the year to March 31, 2008.

Chidambaram warns cement industry again, India

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has warned the cement industry again of serious “administrative measures” if it did not cooperate in checking inflation.

Ukraine cement production up 9.1% in April

Ukrainian cement production rose by 9.1% in April 2008, compared with April 2007 to 1.5Mt,

US Appeal Court overrules Titan Cement Florida mining ban

An Appeals Court has overruled a previous, lower court ban on Titan Cement SA’s mining operations in the Lake Belt district of Florida, and has ordered the lower court to reconsider the case

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Corporate   

India: cement stocks fall 4% -16% following export ban

The export ban on cement in India has led to a fall in prices, hitting the industry hard. This has also led to a free-fall in prices of cement stocks

Asia Cement China Raises US$238m in HK IPO

Asia Cement (China) Holdings has raised US$238 million in a Hong Kong initial public offering

Birla Corporation has reported a 14.46 per cent dip in net profit

Birla Corporation has reported a 14.46 per cent dip in net profit in the quarter ended March 2008 to

Egypt’s South Valley Cement to give free shares

Shareholders of Egypt’s South Valley Cement approved a two-for-five stock dividend, the firm said in a statement to the stock exchange on Sunday.

Portugal BPI to revise projections on Semapa after 1Q08 results

Portuguese investment bank BPI will reconsider its estimates and expectations about local construction group Semapa, after the presentation of the first quarter 2008 earnings results,

Allen to become new CFO for TXI

Ken Allen has been named vice president of finance and chief financial officer of Texas Industries, Inc, effective August 1.

Taiwan Cement Group sees earnings shrink in Q1

The rising prices of crude oil and coal have driven down operating gross profit margins for Taiwan Cement Group’s

Vulcan Announces first quarter results

Vulcan Materials Company announced first quarter net sales were US$772m compared to US$630m in the first quarter of 2007.

Prosperity Minerals issue of Notes with Warrants

Prosperity which operates a cement manufacturing business in the People’s Republic of China and an iron ore business serving the same market

OCI profit jumps on more contracts

Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries said its net income in 2007 grew by almost half from the previous year on a record number of construction contracts.

Trading   

Pakistan to export 52,000t of cement to India

Pakistan will export about 52,000t of cement to India in the next two months.

India may ban cement exports if prices rise

India may consider banning cement exports if prices continue to rise, Commerce and Industry Secretary G.K.

Belarus raises cement prices

Belarus has raised cement prices and reduced trade discounts in accordance with

India to facilitate more cement imports from Pakistan

With mounting political pressure to check price rise, the Indian Government is likely to facilitate more cement imports from Pakistan

Ras Al Khaimah Cement buys S.Africa coal cargo at $150/t

UAE cement maker Ras al Khaimah Cement Co has bought a prompt cargo of South African coal from traders Glencore at around $150.00 a tonne CIF, traders said.

Egypt says could review cement bans

Egypt’s government could repeal the ban on cement exports before its scheduled end if prices fall, the country’s deputy trade minister said on Tuesday.

Lucky to export cement to South Africa

Lucky Cement is optimistic about the expansion process of its first production line (4,200tpd or 1.26Mta) in

Pakistan: open land route To India could double cement export

Pakistan’s cement exports to India may double if India allows transportation of the commodity over land, a Pakistan official said Tuesday.

Zambia to import Zim cement

The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry officials have travelled to Zimbabwe to make arrangement for Zambia to import 55,000t of cement to meet the shortfall in the market.

Pakistani cement gets green signal from South Africa

The Pakistan cement sector has received a green signal from the South African authorities to export cement with Pakistani tag

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Freight Markets   

Baltic gains reflect increased trading activities

Hard to comprehend, the continuing desire to convert aging single-skin VLCCs to dry bulk carriers still

Pakistan cement exports to Middle East and African increase

High demand of Pakistan’s cement in the Middle East and African countries has enhanced significantly country’s exports by 80 percent in the three quarters of the current fiscal year to stand at 2.632M

Export coal shortages could impact on rates

Coal markets have tended to dominate the news of late with reports of further congestion at Australia’s main export loaders likely to limit volumes for the foreseeable future with one report sug

Freight rates bounce back in February

The Baltic Dry Index jumped 1000 points last week as confidence returned to the dry bulk market and expectations grew for more iron ore cargos, especially out of Brazil which had seen some supply disr

Markets show more instability

Another frenetic week in the dry bulk market with more huge fluctuations in rates and plenty of drama behind the scenes. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) finished ast Friday at 6462, down nearly 1500 on th

Oversupply factors begin to bite

The Baltic Panamax Index went down by 412 points mid-December, finishing at 9394. The four TC’s average lost US$3,400, falling from US$79,100 per day to US$75,700. Last week’s drop in the

Merger mania hits mining sectors

In a move that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago, BHP Billiton confirmed last week that it had made a formal offer for rival Rio Tinto.

When will it all end?

There was only one game in town last week: the incredible leap in the Baltic Dry Index. For the first time in its twenty-two year history the BDI breached the 10,000 mark, propelled by runaway rates i

No end in sight to market gains

If any more evidence were needed that drybulk rates have gone through the roof, this week saw the Baltic Capesize Index record its biggest ever one-day gain, equivalent to a rise of 6%. The jaw-droppi

A time for reflection perhaps?

While many shipowners are quietly publishing their financial results for the first half of the year reflecting the amazing levels achieved on the charter market, mining companies have been starting to

Environmental   

Lafarge Cement UK to trial solid recovered fuel

Lafarge cement, which has six cement kilns in the UK, has received a permit from the Environment Agency to trial Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) at its Cauldon Works in Staffordshire.

PCA: cement industry honors leaders in environmental improvement

Five cement plants received special recognition for their commitment to improving the environment and their communities at the Seventh Annual Cement Industry Environment and Energy Awards

Aberthaw Cement plant wins award

Aberthaw Cement Works has been hailed as one of the best-performing plants in Western Europe by

Global emissions reduction key for emissions trading scheme

The draft Climate Change Bill currently before Parliament will result in more CO2 being generated globally

Athi River mining addresses dust issues

Athi River Mining Ltd is putting in place measures to address dust polution.

Carbon tax worries cement makers

British Columbia’s plans for fighting climate change could pose "a significant threat" to domestic cement producers

Holcim affirms commitment to the environment at BSA-MIT Symposium

Patrick Dolberg, President and CEO of Holcim (US), has discussed Holcim’s environmental initiatives and support for the future of sustainable design at a symposium

Siam Cement aims to spend THB15bn on cleaner, efficient power

The Siam Cement Group plans to spend THB15bn (US$477m) until 2012 to improve power consumption

California Portland Cement Co’s renewable energy agreement

California Portland Cement Co signed a 25-year contract with Southern California Edison that ensures a large portion of the power consumed at its Mojave,

Air near Padeswood cement factory ’good’...

A two-year study has shown air quality near Castle Cement’s Padeswood factory is "good" according to the Environment Agency.

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Recent Orders   

New orders for Christian Pfeiffer

On May 1st, 2008 Nael Cement Co, located at Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates signed a contract for the supply of a new clinker grinding plant.

Swedish consulting group SWECO wins EUR2.6m contract in Lithuania

Swedish technical consulting services provider SWECO said on Monday (5 May) that it has won a EUR2.6m contract from the Lithuanian cement producer Akmenes Cementas AB.

Gebr. PFEIFFER AG to supply another MPS Mill to ACC, India

Gebr Pfeiffer AG and its Indian subsidiary Gebr Pfeiffer AG (INDIA) Pvt. Ltd. have been appointed by

KHD wins major contract in India

Due to the booming market for cement in India, Jindal South West Group has decided to get into cement production with its subsidiary JSW Cement Ltd.

TurboSonic announces US$1m in gas scrubber orders

TurboSonic Technologies, Inc announced receipt of US$1m in new orders for SoniChem Chemical Oxidizer and TurboVenturi Gas Scrubbing Systems

KHD Humboldt Wedag International Ltd wins contract in India

KHD Humboldt Wedag International Ltd announced today that it has won a contract valued at approximately US$80m

FLSmidth wins two orders in Russia and Ukraine

FLSmidth has signed its third contract this year for equipment for a greenfield cement plant in Russia. T

China’s Sinoma unit wins Andalas contract, Indonesia

Sinoma International Engineering Co Ltd said its unit Sinoma (Handan) Construction Co Ltd has won a

FLSmidth wins modernisation project in the US

FLSmidth is to supply equipment with a value of approximately US$75m for the modernisation and expansion of Ash Grove Cement Company’s Foreman plant.

New contract for Fives FCB with Cementos Apasco, Mexico

ives FCB and the Mexican Company Cementos Apasco, part of the Holcim Group, have recently signed