Italcementi

Suez Cement is to commission a new production line with a clinker capacity of 2.0m tonnes. As part of a deal with the regulatory authorities, 13 smaller wet production lines will be closed at Helwan Cement and Torah Cement as well as a 1.1m dry production line at Torah cement. The net effect will be to raise the annual cement capacity by 0.9m tonnes.

Italcementi's North American subsidiary Essroc has cut production further, resulting in a 10% cut in the number employed at the works.