Cement News tagged under: outlook

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Russia: time for change

15 April 2019, Published under Cement News

While Russia’s economy has stabilised following several years of recession, domestic cement demand is expected to only return to growth in 2020. Meanwhile, trading volumes have also softened as cement imports and exports continue to decline on the back of lower demand from domestic and key export markets. By Aleksei Semenov, GS-Expert LLC, Russia. The construction of office and administrative buildings rose by 25 per cent YoY in 2018 although the major office market of Moscow exper...

Raising expectations

01 April 2019, Published under Cement News

A tightening supply-demand balance, rising prices and record industry profits have raised expectations of an improved scenario for China’s cement producers in 2019. A number of challenges remain on the supply-side, including tighter emissions control standards and the threat of imports into coastal markets, but the outlook for consumption is promising. By Fei (Grace) Chen, China Cement Association, China. China’s cement industry produced 2.177bnt of cement in 2018 China’s cement...

China’s balancing act

27 March 2019, Published under Cement News

2018 marked the 40th anniversary of China’s “Reform and Opening Up”, the name given to the hugely successful economic reforms instigated by Deng Xiaoping in 1978, which initiated the country’s transformation from a largely agricultural nation into the second- largest economy in the world. This remarkable period has seen China’s economy enjoy an uninterrupted, multi-decade economic boom and lifted tens of millions out of poverty. China’s cement producers are mid-way through a key phase...

South Korea: new strategies

13 March 2019, Published under Cement News

As South Korea’s economy dips and government policies negatively influence infrastructure plans, the country’s cement industry remains at overcapacity amid stagnant levels of demand. Moving forward, producers must find new strategies to operate competitively in this challenging market. By Manas Tamotia, LEK Consulting, Singapore. With South Korean cement plants mainly located in the central and eastern coastal areas, cement producers face high distribution costs to deliver their pr...

Global cement markets in 2019

04 March 2019, Published under Cement News

Low macroeconomic visibility, slowing global growth, geopolitical risks and industry-specific questions such as the outlook for Chinese cement prices or rising CO 2 costs in Europe have presented challenges to cement market analysts worldwide in forecasting 2019. Following its 13th annual cement survey, Exane BNP Paribas sheds more light on the year ahead. By Paul Roger, Exane BNP Paribas, UK. Figure 1: cement volume scenario, 2019 The overall conclusions are not too bearish fo...

Cement in the heart of Africa

28 January 2019, Published under Cement News

Following two particularly challenging years and considerable overcapacity, the cement industry in the Republic of Congo can look forward to better times. The government is set to increase investment in housing and public spending to advance the country’s infrastructure, and provide for its growing and young population.  With 1.8m people, Brazzaville is Congo’s largest city and accounted for over 100,000t of cement consumption in 2017 The economic crisis in the Republic of Congo...

Building for a boom

21 January 2019, Published under Cement News

As ICR looks at the Bangladeshi cement market, it speaks with Masud Khan, CEO of MI Cement, about the status of the domestic market, the company’s achievements to date and plans for the future. Masud Khan, CEO of MI Cement, speaks with ICR about the company’s plans for the Bangladeshi cement sector ICR: What are the main factors that impact on Bangladesh’s (low) per capita cement consumption? Are poor distribution routes to rural areas a major factor? Masud Khan (MK): Bangla...

Bangladesh: robust and stable

16 January 2019, Published under Cement News

Large-scale infrastructure, growing urbanisation and strong foreign direct investment are fuelling rising cement demand in Bangladesh. But will it be enough to utilise production capacity as new plants come on-stream and existing works are upgraded and modernised? Bashundhara Cement’s Mongla plant has a production capacity of 2.65Mta, which, along with its 2.4Mta works in Madangonj, makes the company one of the largest producers in Bangladesh Bangladesh’s aspirations to becom...

VICEM targets further growth in 2019

08 January 2019, Published under Cement News

Vietnam Cement industry Corp (VICEM) has reported a 10 per cent YoY increase in revenue to VND37trn (US$1.59bn) for 2018. The company also saw an 11 per cent rise in pretax profit to VND2.8trn. VICEM expects to push this even further by reaching a revenue of VND40trn in 2019. According to Bùi Hồng Minh, general director of VICEM, pretax profit is expected to hit VND3.2trn in the year ahead. To achieve these goals, the company will produce and consume 31Mt of coal. It will also invest in ...

Cement in 2019

07 January 2019, Published under Cement News

While global economic growth is expected to continue in 2019, uncertainty will affect the expansion of key cement markets in the year ahead. As a result a mild contraction is forecast although there will be regional differences in cement demand with the developed markets registering limited growth while emerging markets will be more robust. By Arnaud Pinatel and Yassine Touahri, On Field Investment Research, UK. Figure 1: changes in regional cement demand, 2017 vs 2018. Source: OFI...