Cement News tagged: International
CIROM: Romanian cement market growth muted at 2%
Romania’s cement association, CIROM, expects the country’s cement market to show only modest growth in 2018. "We are not very optimistic about the cement market in 2018. We estimate an increase of about two per cent, because the non-residential works are few and the infrastructure, if some of the work is done is good," says Mihai Rohan, president of CIROM. In 2017 Romania’s cement demand...
Colombia: SIC confirms cartelisation sanctions
The Colombian Superintendent of Industry and Commerce (SIC) has ratified sanctions imposed in December on Argos, Holcim Colombia and Cemex Colombia, for price cartelisation between 2010-12. The three cement producers have been fined a combined COP201,616m (US$71.7m). Cementos Argos will have to pay a fine of COP73,771m, the same sum already paid by Cemex at the start of this year. Holcim’s f...
Cemex: Mexican cement market to grow 3% in 2018
Mexico’s cement market is forecast to grow by 2-3 per cent, according to Cemex CEO, Fernando González. While construction of housing is expected to advance only modestly, the commercial and industrial building segments are envisaged to show sufficient growth. Infrastructure will also account for 25 per cent of cement offtake. “I wish we could do much more in infrastructure. I think that...
Cimerwa to resume full production in May
Rwanda’s Cimerwa has resumed production after a two-month break for maintenance and upgrade works. This is expected to ease a cement deficit in both Rwanda and Uganda, while also stabilising prices that have recently increased, according to The East African. The company is currently completing post-maintenance tests and aims to begin full production at its 0.6Mta Bugarama facility in May. T...
Cement prices in Egypt fall after March high
Following their rise to EGP1250/t in March, cement prices in Egypt are dropping back to EGP950 this month, according to AhramOnline. The resumption of production at the Arish Cement Factory, the partial resumption of production at Sinai Cement, and the start of trial production at the Beni Sweif Cement Plant have all helped increase the supply of cement on the market, leading to the drop in ...
The Peruvian cement market expanded 2% in March
Peru’s cement consumption rose 1.9 per cent YoY to 816,000t and one per cent MoM from 824,000t in February 2018, according to the national cement association, Asocem. Cement producers delivered a total of 791,000t of cement to the domestic and export markets, up two per cent YoY and 4.7 per cent MoM. In February total dispatches reached 756,000t. Domestic deliveries rose 2.6 per cent YoY to...
Manufacturers fined for selling underweight cement bags
Two manufacturers have been fined INR24,000 (US$363.30) for selling underweight cement bags in Pulwama, south Kashmir, according to the United News of India. The bags were found when the Field Executive of the Legal Metrology Department (LMD) and the Assistant Controller of Pulwama carried out an inspection on two vehicles leaving the district. "During a surprise inspection, two lorries car...
Vietnam exports rise 68 per cent in the 1Q18
Vietnam has seen a 68 per cent increase in cement exports for the 1Q18, following the shutdown of several Chinese plants, according to Viet Nam News. Nguyễn Quang Cung, vice chairman of the Vietnam Building Material Association, announced that production in the country surged 18 per cent YoY in the quarter, marking the first time it had recorded high growth against an annual increase of appr...
Spain sees 12% YoY rise in demand in February
Cement demand in Spain increased 11.7 per cent YoY in February, according to the Spanish cement association, Oficemen. In the 12 months ending February 2018, domestic cement consumption reached 12.6Mt, up 1.3Mt or 11.5 per cent YoY. Cement and clinker exports from Spain continue to fall with the 12 months ending January 2018 noting a 10 per cent YoY decrease in exports. In the 4Q17 ...
Hazardous powder may be used in cement production
The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has sent samples of a hazardous black powder to a Gujarat-based manufacturer to ascertain whether it can be used in the production of cement, according to The Times of India. This is the latest development in the UPPCB’s mission to safely dispose of 25,586m 3 of powder which is currently along the banks of the Ramganga River, Moradabad. "W...
Hima Cement to open new plant in Uganda next month
Hima Cement has announced that its UGX144bn (US$40m) new plant in Tororo, Uganda, will begin operations next month. The country is currently experiencing a severe price hike and George Nicola, CEO of Hima Cement Uganda, has stated that increased production can solve the issue. “It is not the producers increasing the price but it’s the full distribution channel that has been impacted,” said ...
Capacity on the increase in Pakistan
Cement production capacity in Pakistan increased by 52 per cent in last decade. According to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), capacity has risen from 30.50Mt in 2006-07 to 46.39Mt in 2016-17. The trend continues in current fiscal year as well and further advanced to 49.44Mt in first nine months of 2017-18. According to a local research house, Attock Cement Pakistan...
Indonesian cement market grows to 5.2Mt in March
Cement sales in Indonesia increased by 3.5 per cent YoY to 5,204,852t in March 2018 when compared with 5,027,799t recorded in the year-ago period, according to figures by the Indonesian Cement Association (ASI). In February off-take in the domestic market advanced by 5.9 per cent YoY from 4,554,653t to 4,821,262t. In terms of exports, cement exports in March fell by 36.6 per cent YoY to 70,...
KFTC fines 26 manufacturers for cartelisation
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has announced that it levied KRW15.37bn (US$14.64m) of fines on 26 cement manufacturers for cartelisation activities, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. The KFTC stated that the manufacturers had colluded to set the prices of ready-mix concrete provided to smaller construction firms between 2009-16. As a result, the prices of the construction material h...
Cement prices rise in northern Pakistan
Cement prices in Pakistan, after registering a drop of almost 10 per cent over the last nine months, have started to increase in the northern region. Prices rose by PKR20 (US$0.17) on average, while prices have remained stable in the south. In Lahore the multiple brands of cement bags available have increased from an average of PKR505/50kg bag to PKR525.
CANACEM to ask presidential candidates for continuity
Mexico’s National Chamber of Cement (CANACEM) will ask presidential candidates for continuity in the economic model and investments projects, reports Noticias Financieras. Mauricio Doehner, president of the organisation, has said that its members will seek dialogue with the candidates to present its needs. "[…] [W]e believe that we should continue with an economic model such as the one of ex...