Cement News tagged: International
Chilean cement market contracts by 12% in November
Cement dispatches in Chile fell by 11.8 per cent to 408,824t in November 2023 from 463,307t in November 2022, according to data published by the country's construction chamber, CChC. In the first 11 months of 2023 dispatches were down 11.4 per cent to 4,751,918t from 5,362,034t in the year-ago period.
Cement output in Italy declines 2% in October
Cement production in Italy slipped by two per cent YoY in October 2023, according to the Italian concrete association, Federbeton. When compared with the 2015-baseline index of 100, output edged up to 101. The country imported 162,219t of grey cement in September 2023, up 13 per cent YoY, with a total CIF value of EUR14.424m, or EUR89/t. Exports increased by four per cent YoY in September ...
Afghan coal price surge impacts northern Pakistan cement production costs
A spike in Afghan coal prices has affected the cost of cement production in northern Pakistan. JS Research reports that the northern-based cement companies, which operate 20 of the 26 production lines in Pakistan, are facing the challenge of high production costs due to a recent rise in imported coal prices. The cost trade-off between Afghan and international coal remains dynamic, leading to d...
Cement prices rise in Sri Lanka
The maximum retail price of a 50kg bag of cement has been increased in Sri Lanka by LKR150 (US$0.466) with immediate effect, cement manufacturers said. They said the price was increased due to the imposition of the value-added tax on 1 January. Accordingly, the new retail price of a 50kg bag of cement is LKR2450 (US$7.62). Meanwhile, National Construction Workers Union (NCWU) secretary, ...
Cement industry looks forward to sustainable progress in 2024
As we enter a new year, all eyes are on what the future holds for the cement industry following a mixed performance in 2023 that saw many key markets underperform. Global cement demand fell by 1.2 per cent in 2023 to 4025Mt, following a 5.1 per cent decline in 2022, according to The Global Cement Report, 15th Edition (GCR15). Of course, China continues to dominate, having consumed 2119Mt ...
Pakistan sees drop in 1HFY23-24 dispatches
Pakistan's cement dispatches increased by 4.6 per cent in December 2023 to 4.06Mt against 3.881Mt dispatched in December 2022. Out of this total, according to the data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement dispatches were 3.536Mt compared to 3.676Mt in December 2022, showing a decline of 3.8 per cent. However, more positive news came from the overseas ...
Moroccan cement deliveries advance 19% in December
Cement deliveries by members of Morocco’s cement association APC (Asment Temara, Ciments de l’Atlas, Ciments du Maroc and LafargeHolcim Maroc) have increased by 19.1 per cent YoY to 1,122,290t in December 2023 from 942,317t in December 2022, according to he Ministry of National Territory Planning, Land Planning, Housing and Urban Policy. Of this total, deliveries to the retail segment were up...
Zimbabwe announces new cement plant
A new US$1bn cement plant project has been launched in Karoi Town, Zimbabwe. The project, which is being funded by Chinese investors, will be completed within the next two years and marks a partnership between Labenmon Investments (Pvt) Ltd and West International Holding, according to The Zimbabwe Mail. The new facility will include a 2.7Mta dry-process clinker cement production line, a 100MW...
Saudi cement demand to see 3% uptick in 2024
Cement demand in Saudi Arabia is forecast to advance by three per cent in 2024 in terms of volumes, compared to a decline of eight per cent in 2023, reports Aljazira Capital. The first 11 months of 2023 saw local dispatches fall to around 43Mt, marking a 7.4 per cent contraction YoY, mainly driven by weak construction activity in the housing sector. Going forward, demand is expected to ...
Cement shortage hits Zimbabwean economy
Zimbabwe’s economic growth in the third quarter of 2023 was hit by a shortage of cement, according to local news source, Chronicle. The country’s economy grew by just 1.3 per cent over the three-month period, reports the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, driven by a 36.7 per cent slowdown in construction activity, which was reportedly due to a lack of cement supplies. Plant breakdowns an...
Colombia's cement market contracts 1% in November
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...
BUA Cement confirms 2024 cement prices
Chairman of the BUA Group, Nigeria, Abdul-Samad Rabiu, has confirmed cement prices will be held at NGN3500 per bag (US$3.90) from January 2024. He said the company would make the product accessible and affordable to customers, despite various challenges. NGN3500 per bag is the ex works price, and does not include VAT or transportation costs to the customer.
Armenia imposes 6-month cement import ban
The Armenian government has banned imports from third countries for a period of six months. The step was taken to create favourable conditions for local cement producers. “The adoption of the decision is due to the need to regulate the importation of cement from third countries and to create equal conditions for cement produced and imported in the local cement market” indicates government te...
Ukrainian cement production up 38% YoY in 11M23
Cement production in Ukraine came in at 5.8Mt in the first 11 months of 2023, according to Ukrcement. This marks a 38.2 per cent increase on the same period a year earlier. Production in 2022 stood at 4.3Mt, down 51 per cent YoY, while 2021 saw production of 11.005Mt. At least two companies are in the process of building additional clinker kilns, reports Ukrcement, with cement seen as “e...
Vietnamese market contracts 15% in November
Cement dispatches in Vietnam declined by 15 per cent YoY to 4,965,222t in November 2023, according to the Vietnam National Cement Association, VNCA. Of this total, 1,525,967t was delivered by VICEM, which saw its shipments down by 15 per cent. Other VNCA members supplied 939,255t, down 20 per cent YoY, while non-members saw a 13 per cent drop in deliveries to 2,500,000t. Total exports slippe...
WCA calls for greater connectivity and communication
The World Cement Association (WCA) has called for more research and development into low carbon cement production in emerging markets. Wei Rushan, president of the WCA, has highlighted an “evident disparity” in the allocation of funding for emerging technologies like carbon capture projects, “with a significant majority directed towards developed countries.” “Technologies and solutions lik...