The 50% capacity increase in the grinding and clinker storage facilities of Sunshine Cement in Queensland are progressing well and will take the annual cement capacity at the associate, owned jointly with Adelaide Brighton, to 1.5Mt. The positive pricing development also applies to aggregates and ready-mixed concrete, but volumes in building products are down.
In Asia, growth is expected to continue this year, but markets are likely to remain competitive. In the United States, the outlook has deteriorated further in recent months and current concrete tile production, by example, is currently down to about 20% of installed capacity.
