Cement News tagged: Trading
Petcoke-coal discount returns to neutral zone
Since ICR’s most recent energy report, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent shocks into the energy complex. While oil revisited its all-time high of US$140, it has since fallen to US$115/bbl. High-sulphur (6.5%, 40HGI) FOB petcoke price, historical view 2006-22 – Expected range US$175-225. Resistance at US$205, 235 and 250 while support to be found at US$175, 155, 115 and 100. Mu...
Largest fall ever as financial players liquidate positions, or are forced to close – return to compliance levels
By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark After reaching EUR98.50, the EUA Dec 22 has fallen to EUR68, representing a 30 per cent drop. This came in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the turbulence in all financial markets. As discussed last issue, financial players were taking profit and new margin calls from losses in other markets sent the EUA in a sell mode. Furt...
Malaysian raw material costs push up cement prices
The current cement price in Malaysia has been hiked due to increases in the cost of raw materials, especially coal in the international market, says Sharuddin Omar Hashim, Cement Industries of Malaysia Berhad (CIMA) . Coal prices have escalated by 30-40 per cent of the cost of cement production, which has necessitated the final product price rises. "Coal prices were previously in the ra...
Russian invasion of Ukraine sends shockwaves into the energy complex with supply fears and sanctions
By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark Following Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, markets have been experiencing extreme volatility. In less liquid markets, such as petcoke, trade was virtually suspended in the first week after the invasion. Therefore, this report will diverge from its usual format. Table 1: Prices at a glance Crude oil (US$/bbl) ...
Kenya considers duty increase on imported clinker
The Kenyan government is considering an increase on duty on imported clinker to rein in trading malpractices. It says some errant cement companies have been abusing the low tax regime of 10 per cent in the region and now wants to take countermeasures to reduce clinker imports. “Some of these cement companies are importing clinker and the same companies are mining clinker and exporting it to ...
Cement producers raise prices in Vietnam
Cement manufacturers have raised prices by VND100,000-150,000 (US$4.40-6.60) /t, or by 5.5-8.3 per cent, in Vietnam, claiming production costs have risen. Ha Tien 1 Cement JSC, a subsidiary of the Vietnam National Cement Corporation ( VICEM ), announced a hike of VND100,000/t to VND1,800,000/t for its Vicem Ha Tien brand of packed cement with effect from 23 March. Hoang Long C...
EC agrees on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
The European Council (EC) has reached agreement (general approach) on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulation, which is one of the key elements of the European Union’s ‘Fit for 55’ package. The main objective of this environmental measure is to avoid carbon leakage. It will also encourage partner countries to establish carbon pricing policies to fight climate change. ...
Pakistan's cement/clinker exports observe a mixed trend in 8MFY22
Pakistan's cement and clinker exports have observed a mixed trend in the first eight months of FY21-22. During a presentation, Mohsin Naqvi, group director finance of Maple Leaf Group – the parent company of Maple Leaf Cement Co (MLCF), has stated that the company is not foreseeing robust growth in export given higher sea freight charges. Hence, the negative trend was also reflected in cumula...
Indonesian cement and clinker exports rise to record levels in 2021
Indonesia is rapidly expanding its cement and clinker export activities, with YoY volumes climbing by 25.2 per cent to reach a record 11.610Mt in 2021. By year end, cement exports grew by 46.6 per cent to 1.609Mt, while clinker volumes expanded by 22.3 per cent to 10.001Mt. Bangladesh and the Philippines were major clinker destinations, while cement destinations included Mauritius and the M...
Egypt sees 151% cement export surge in 2021
Cement exports from Egypt are up 151 per cent YoY in 2021 to US$456m from US$182m in 2020, according to a recent report by the Export Council for Building Materials, Refractory and Metallurgy Industries. The increase in exports was driven by a higher demand for Egyptian cement, said Medhat Stefanos, chairman of the cement division of the Federation of Egyptian Industries. In addition, domest...
Belarusian commodity exchange to sell 1.5Mt in 2022
The Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) expects the sell around 1.5Mt of cement in 2022. In 2022 up to 50 per cent of the total volume of cement by the Belarusian Cement Co to the domestic market, or 1.5Mt, will be put up for auctions. In the first stage, buyers will include any companies, except for those engaged in the construction of facilities financed from the national bud...
Energy complex sees uplift on Ukraine-Russia conflict, but discounts are stable
Since ICR’s most recent energy report , Russia’s recognition of the Donbas region in Ukraine and military move into it are lifting the energy complex. As no war has broken out at the time of writing, medium effects depend on political sanctions and the respect of borders. In the short term, oil is close to US$100. High-sulphur (6.5%, 40HGI) FOB petcoke price, historical view 2006-22 ...
Carbon reaches EUR100 in Cal23 – a new all-time high as power generation demands more coal and gas
By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark The EUA Dec 22 has set a new all-time high at EUR98.50, driven by real demand for compliance as especially coal but also gas are increasingly filling the gap left by a drop in nuclear-based power in France. To ensure sufficient baseload electricity, several coal-fired plants are being restarted. However, financial players continue to make ...
Lafarge Algeria aims to export 3Mt
Holcim -owned Lafarge Algérie has carried out two more export shipments from the port of Oran, Algeria. A cargo of 35,000t of bulk grey cement and a 30,000t shipment of white cement in big bags were supplied by the Oggaz plant and are destined for the Americas. This year, the company aims to export 3Mt. In 2021 Lafarge Algérie exported 2.6Mt of cement, up 120 per cent when compared with 2...
Pakistan's cement and clinker exports decline
Pakistan's cement and clinker exports have decreased in the first seven months of the FY21-22. According to local analysts, historically, when domestic demand is booming, exports take a backseat, and when the domestic market is slowing down, exports contribute a critical share in total sales. It makes more economic sense to sell domestically where prices are more desirable and less competiti...
Geopolitical risk drives entire energy complex higher with oil at 8-year peak and coal supporting petcoke prices
By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark The euro rose sharply from US$1.1150 to US$1.1450 after the European Central Bank hinted that rate hikes were on the way, based on fear of higher inflation numbers. However, while it is expected to remain in the range of US$1.115-1.1600, volatility could arise depending on the geopolitical outcome after tensions increased when Russian troops ...