Cement News tagged: International
Asian producers warned over carbon price liability
Asian cement companies will see consistent negative margins in the next decade if they do not decarbonise, according to a report by the Imperial College Business School. The report, published in partnership with the Singapore Green Finance Centre, explored the financial impact of decarbonisation on Asia’s cement and steel companies covered by selected Asian Emission Trading Schemes. Res...
Cement-free mineral foams for 3D printing
ETH Zurich has launched a project known as Airlements, which pioneers the use of cement-free mineral foams derived from recycled industrial waste, including fly ash from industrial blastfurnaces, to produce 3D printed building components. Spearheaded by doctoral researcher Patrick Bedarf from Professor Benjamin Dillenburger’s Digital Building Technologies group, the technology promises to red...
Mission Possible reports says CCUS is falling short
Ten of the world’s largest cement and concrete companies, including Heidelberg Materials , CEMEX and Holcim , have joined architects, engineers and construction firms in a collective acknowledgement for action, known as Mission Possible Partnership (MPP). MPP has developed a new strategy with industry input that sets out milestones and commitments needed by government, industry and investo...
Swiss team draws on archives to develop low-carbon binders
A team of experts from EPFL (Switzerland), ETH Zurich and a Geneva-based architecture firm has developed a new type of non-reinforced concrete made from stone offcuts. Their method, known as ‘Cyclopean’, draws on ancient technologies uncovered in historical archives to reduce the use of carbon-intensive cement-based binders. In October this year, the team built six load-bearing walls ...
Cement demand in Spain down 7% in October
Cement consumption in Spain declined 6.7 per cent in October 2023 to 1,171,629t when compared with October 2022, according to Oficemen, the Spanish cement association. Exports were down 10.6 per cent YoY to 430,421t in October, representing the fourth-consecutive month of decline. In the first 10 months of 2023 cement demand edged up by two per cent to 12,126,694t. Exports contracted four pe...
Pakistan cement transportation to become costlier
Pakistan has started implementing an axle load regime on transporting cement, all kinds of raw materials and other commodities to meet the World Bank yardstick and improve its ranking. According to IMS Research, the government has taken a firm stance on implementing the axle load regime, effective 15 November 2023, across all motorways and highways in Pakistan. This decision is anticipated to ...
Political agitation in Bangladesh cripples supply chain inclusive cement
For the last four weeks, consecutive political agitation in Bangladesh has negatively impacted the country's economy. The supply chain has been severely affected, including transporting commodities and cement from factories to end users. The issue is due to a lack of loading trucks on the roads, the fear of looting, etc. This problem is not limited to the cement industry, as every industry is ...
Qatar cement market to expand 5.2% in 2022-32
The cement market in Qatar is expected to see a CAGR of 5.2 per cent on the basis of value in 2022-32, reaching a valuation of US$1550.9m by the end of the period. According to Future Market Insights, the advance in demand is being attributed to the country’s rising population and urbanisation, which has prompted increased demand for residential buildings, in particular, along with commercial ...
MPA deeply disappointed at lack of Government CBAM announcement
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is deeply disappointed by the lack of commitment to a UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in the Autumn Statement. This missed opportunity should be urgently followed by publication of the promised consultation response announcing introduction of a CBAM. "Failure to take this opportunity to demonstrate support for energy intensive industries, i...
Vietnamese cement market contracts 18% in October
Cement sales in Vietnam declined by 18 per cent YoY to 4,725,367t in October 2023 when compared with October 2022, according to the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA). Of this total, VICEM sales fell by 18 per cent YoY to 1,481,781t while other VNCA members sold 893,586t, down 26 per cent YoY. Non-VNCA members saw sales of 2,350,000t, a decrease of 16 per cent when compared with sales ...
MPA letter calls for focus on skills and education
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is one of six organisations who have signed an open letter to university leaders in the UK, setting out the essential role of materials, minerals and mining in modern society. The letter from the MPA, along with the Critical Minerals Association (CMA) (UK), Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3), Institute of Quarrying (IQ), Mineral Products ...
Canada welcomes government CCUS commitment
The Cement Association of Canada (CAC) says it is pleased to support the measures and investments announced in the Federal Fall Economic Statement to advance the Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Investment Tax Credits (CCUS ITC) and others. According to the CAC, it is essential that Canada keeps pace with other jurisdictions such as the US and the EU in attracting investment in industr...
Zimbabwe import licence scheme drives down prices
On 10 November 2023 CemNet reported on how the Zimbabwean government has issued cement import licences to ensure supply while two of the country’s leading cement producers dealt with production issues. According to The Herald, the scheme is already bearing fruit with imports of 149,000t of cement not only helping to clear the backlog of demand, but also driving down cement prices in the coun...
Russian cement producers warn of escalating costs
Leading cement producers in Russia have warned domestic regulators of a 17-30 per cent rise in production costs next year, caused by continually increasing costs related to logistics, energy and personnel. The result will inevitably lead to a rise in cement prices over the coming several months, they caution. Representatives of Soyuzcement, the national cement manufacturing union, have alre...
Pakistan to strategise industrial policy, including cement
Pakistan’s caretaker government has formed a 19-member Industrial Advisory Council to develop industrial policies, including for the cement industry. The council comprises members from different industries, such as cement, fertiliser, pharmaceutical, steel, textile, packaging, electronics, etc. It is chaired by the Federal Minister of Industry and Production, Gohar Ejaz, and includes 12 privat...
Thailand pins hopes on Land Bridge Project
Thailand’s economy grew much slower than expected in the third quarter of 2023. According to the country’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), GDP expanded by just 1.5 per cent over the three-month period, significantly lower than the 2.4 per cent growth estimated by Reuters. The disappointing result, which marks the slowest quarterly expansion this year, is being a...