As a prelude to ICR’s annual performance review of the top six global cement majors, we provide an overview of some of the key themes to have emerged in 2011. We also take a look ahead to next year as Camargo Corrêa’s asset swap with Votorantim will bring changes to the top of the cement leader chart and, elsewhere, the future international expansion of state-owned producers in China, Vietnam and Indonesia could also be on the cards.
Holcim narrowly lost its position as the world’s largest international cement producer last year, with production being 5.6 per cent higher at 144.3Mt, while Lafarge‘s production advanced by 7.1 per cent to 145.3Mt, or 0.7 per cent ahead of Holcim. In terms of year-end capacity, Holcim led with 216Mt, followed by Lafarge (202Mt, or 217.8Mt including associates) and HeidelbergCement (114.3Mt), with the others all being under 100Mt.
