Cement News tagged: International
Weakness lingering in Spanish cement industry
Cement consumption in Spain reported marginal growth of 0.3 per cent YoY in May to 1.364Mt, up from 1.361Mt in May 2023, according to the latest cement statistics. Exports were up 11.4 per cent YoY in May, coming in at 504,696t, almost 52,000t more than in the same month of 2023. January-May 2024 Cement consumption was down 3.4 per cent YoY in the first five months of 2024, amounting ...
Pakistan’s federal budget offers mixed incentives for the cement industry
On 12 June Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, presented a budget proposal of PKR18.8776trn (US$67.8bn) for FY24-25. The proposal features a record-high deficit of PKR8.5trn, broadly perceived to align with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) guidelines. The cement industry has not yet released any comments on the budget or its lack of considerable incentives for the cement ...
Queensland commits US$70bn to infrastructure investment
Australia’s Queensland government has announced AUD107.3bn (US$70.9bn) in infrastructure investment over the next four years as part of its Big Build programme. Priorities under the programme include decarbonising the state’s energy system, expanding its healthcare capacity, and preparing for the upcoming Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to Felix Project News. Under th...
Heavy rains and floods impact Brazil's cement demand in May
Adverse weather conditions and flooding in Rio Grande do Sul have impacted Brazil's cement dispatches in May 2024, reports the country's cement association, SNIC. Domestic sales were down 5.3 per cent YoY to 5.269Mt in May 2024 when compared with 5.562Mt in May 2023. Southern Brazil saw a 16.3 per cent YoY drop in sales to 0.816Mt in May 2024 from 0.975Mt, while in the southeast sales were d...
Pakistan's cement industry witnesses significant challenges in FY23-24
The cement industry in Pakistan grappled with a series of significant challenges in FY23-24, as reported by the Central Bank. The financial year is yet to complete hence the data represents 10FY23-24. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) unveiled the country’s economic survey 2023-24 on 11 June, shedding light on the state of its cement industry. The report revealed that the industry has been co...
Afrimat Construction Index reports 1.3% YoY decline
Afrimat has released the findings of its Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) for the 1Q24 in South Africa. According to Dr Roelof Botha, the weak economic growth during the first quarter of the year was evident in the construction sector, with eight of the 10 constituent indicators of the ACI recording YoY declines and the ACI growth rate slipping to just below zero. The index recorded a level of...
National Budget FY24-25 offers no direct incentive for the cement sector
Bangladesh’s National Budget for FY24-25 was presented by Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Minister of Finance, in parliament on 6 June 2024. A cursory look at budget documents reveals no direct tax measures/proposals for the cement sector, which encounters financial challenges due to the high cost of raw materials. However, some indirect tax proposals may positively impact the cement industry. The co...
Argentina's cement demand down 27% in May
Argentina's cement market contracted by 27.2 per cent YoY to 780,541t in May 2024 from 1,071,951t, but compared with April 2024, dispatches were up 19 per cent, reports the country's cement association, AFCP. Domestic production was down 27.1 per cent YoY to 785,211t in May 2024 from 1,077,128t, but up 18.7 per cent MoM. Of this total, cement producers exported 4930t, representing a drop of ...
Canada and UNIDO join forces to decarbonise Thailand cement sector
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is joining forces with the Canadian government to help decarbonise Thailand’s cement and concrete sector. A combination of technical assistance and investment support will be given to Thailand to help develop decarbonisation-centric policies, a regulatory framework, and a country-driven national and industrial net-zero roadmap. ...
Kenya's cabinet approves sales of its share in East African Portland Cement
Kenya's cabinet has approved a government proposal to offload the 25.3 per cent share it holds in Kenya-based cement manufacturer, East African Portland Cement Co . This comes as part of a wider plan by the Kenyan government to offload shares in a number of state-owned companies. In November, the country’s President, William Ruto, announced plans to privatise 35 state-controlled companies ...
Robust cement sales growth for Indonesia in May
Cement sales in Indonesia amounted to 5.678Mt in May. This is an increase of 11.2 per cent YoY compared to the 5.008Mt reported a year earlier. Regional sales reported growth across all areas led by Kalimantan where the development of Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, is ongoing. Sales there rose 32.2 per cent YoY in May to 475,672t up from 359,758t. Local dispatches in Bali-Nustra rose 2...
China announces carbon reduction targets for cement production
Chinese government agencies have set specific carbon emission reduction goals for the cement industry, as the country shifts toward a low-carbon economy. China plans to cut CO 2 emissions by around 13Mt between 2024 and 2025. According to multiple government agencies, including the National Development and Reform Commission, this will be achieved through industrial renovation and equipment...
Dalmia Bharat Acquires 26% stake in Solarcraft Power India
Dalmia Bharat Ltd agreed on 8 June to purchase a 26 per cent equity share in Solarcraft Power India 23 (a Karnataka-based solar power firm) for INR103.18m (US$1.24m). The cement company also signed an agreement to buy 8.4m compulsory convertible debentures, amounting to 26 per cent additional equity in Solarcraft, for INR84.38m. Additionally, Dalmia Bharat has signed a power purchase agre...
Senegal market expands 7% in April
Cement sales in Senegal were up seven per cent from 525,000t in April 2023 to 562,000t in April 2024, according to Senegal’s Ministry of Planned Economy and Co-operation. Cement producers produced 702,800t in April 2024, up 1.3 per cent YoY, from 693,500t in the equivalent period in 2023. Of this total, they exported 147,400t, which represents a 7.4 per cent drop from 159,200t in April 2024. ...
Hoffman Green announces the construction of first Saudi unit
Hoffman Green Cement Technologies, a global cement company committed to the decarbonisation of the construction sector, has announced the construction of its first unit in Saudi Arabia. Ground was broken on the new ‘ H-KSA 1’ unit in Rabigh, following the company’s signing of a licensing agreement with Saudi conglomerate the Shurfah Group. The 22-year agreement allows for the co...
MPA sets out mineral priorities for the next UK government
Following the announcement of a UK general election on 4 July, the Mineral Products Association (MPA) pushed out its seminal ‘Priorities for the Next Government’ document to party manifesto writing teams as well as key ministers, shadow ministers, other political leaders and advisers. The MPA document stresses that getting the policy framework right for producers of mineral products such as...