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Lafarge Malaysia to step up cost and efficiency drive

04 January 2018, Published under Cement News

Following its MYR135m net loss for 9MFY17, Lafarge Malaysia confirmed it will pursue ongoing strategic initiatives to achieve profitability in the near term, according to Focus Malaysia. The company expects to optimise its costs as it plans to source petcoke directly from the Middle East, which is forecast to lead to savings of 5-10 per cent. The current modernisation project at its Rawang works is also expected to contribute to the cement producer’s drive to optimise its assets as it...

Domicem appoints new CEO

04 January 2018, Published under Cement News

Colacem-owned Domicem has appointed Adriano Brunetti as its new CEO as part of the company’s drive to transform into a sustainable cement producer in the Dominican Republic. Mr Brunetti has worked for more than 25 years in Grupo Financo. Sergio Nin Maura, commercial director at Domicem, commented on the appointment: "The appointment of our new director represents a very important step for the entity, since we entrust him with the task of carrying on his shoulders the heaviest burden to ac...

Pakistan receives a mixed outlook for 2018

03 January 2018, Published under Cement News

Pakistan’s cement industry is expected to face a series of challenges in 2018 such as decreasing profitability, high interest rates and an increase in coal prices. These factors make a high profit margin for the sector unlikely in the coming years. Reports show that cement bag prices have been placed under pressure by the opening of Cherat Cement’s second production line in the northern region. Alongside this, international coal prices rose by 23 per cent in the first quarter of FY2018 to...

Mexican cement demand forecast to fall 3% in 2017

03 January 2018, Published under Cement News

Mexican cement consumption is expected to reach 43Mt in 2017, representing a three per cent YoY decrease when compared with 2016, according to the National Chamber of Cement (CNC). The fall is the first since 2013. The market contraction has been attributed to a weak construction sector and the uncertainty around the NAFTA negotiations. Cement companies were also at the centre of controversy as they increased prices by a total of 10.18 per cent by November, the highest level in a decad...

Italcementi completes Cementir Italia acquisition

03 January 2018, Published under Cement News

HeidelbergCement subsidiary Italcementi has completed the acquisition of Cementir Italia. All conditions for the closing of the transaction have been fulfilled following the approval by the Italian competition authority. "With the acquisition of Cementir Italia we significantly improve our nationwide presence in Italy," explains Dr Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement. "For Italcementi, the acquisition is a unique opportunity to grow and consolidate its posi...

First bulk cement export from Arzew port performed

22 December 2017, Published under Cement News

LafargeHolcim Algeria celebrated its first export of grey cement from the port of Arzew to a west African country in a ceremony held on 12 December. The ceremony was held in the presence of Mr Jean-Jacques Gauthier, CEO of LafargeHolcim Algeria, Representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry and Mines, local authorities and a large delegation. This first cement export consigment sees the shipment of 16,500t of bulk cement from LafargeHolcim's Oggaz plant. The operation...

Cement demand in Peru up 2.5% in November

21 December 2017, Published under Cement News

Cement consumption in Peru totalled 0.902Mt in November, representing a 2.5 per cent YoY rise but a MoM drop of 2.5 per cent, according to Asocem, the country’s cement association. Output from Peru’s cement plants increased six per cent YoY but declined 3.3 per cent MoM to 0.892Mt in November 2017.  Between January-November 2017, domestic dispatches reached 8.709Mt, representing a 1.1 per cent fall YoY. Imports advanced 11.7 per cent to 0.568Mt in the 11-month period. As a result, tot...

New 1.5Mta cement plant for Timektane inaugurated

18 December 2017, Published under Cement News

Algeria’s Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia has inaugurated a new 1.5Mta cement plant in Timektane, 260km from Adrar. Further expansion of the DZD21bn (US$181m) works is planned in a second stage, which will take cement capacity to 3Mta. The project is a joint venture by STG Sidi Moussa, which owns a 71 per cent stake, and China Triumph International Engineering Co (CTIEC Beijing), which holds the balance of shares. Under a seven-year cooperation agreement, the venture’s Chinese partn...

Lucky completes 1.3Mta expansion line in Karachi

18 December 2017, Published under Cement News

Lucky Cement has informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on 18 December that construction and installation work for its 1.3Mta brownfield kiln line at its Karachi plant in Sindh province, Pakistan, has been successfully completed on time. A bourse filing of company says: "The new line was made operational with commencement of clinker production on 12 December 2017. With the addition of this new line in Karachi for 1.3Mt and certain efficiency improvements brought about recently in the...

Holcim Argentina to invest US$120m in Malagueño

18 December 2017, Published under Cement News

Holcim Argentina has announced a US$120m investment to raise cement capacity at its Malagueño plant by 45 per cent. The expansion project includes the reconstruction of a complete clinker line and a new cement mill as well as the refurbishment of the dispatch lines. The implementation of the expansion is expected to start in early 2018. Some 0.73Mta of capacity will be operational by 2020. "It is a significant increase and will help alleviate some of the problems of backwardness ...