Cement News tagged: International
Cemtech Middle East & Africa gets underway in UAE
Cemtech Middle East & Africa 2018 Cemtech Middle East & Africa 2018 conference and exhibition has opened at the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai, UAE, with delegates from over 30 nations gathering for this annual meeting of cement professionals. Opening the meeting, Thomas Armstrong, managing editor of International Cement Review, observed how global overcapacity - which reach...
Pakistan's cement production grows 10% in 6MFY17-18
The latest data on Pakistan's Large Scale Manufacturing Sector (LSMS), released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, shows overall growth of 5.5 per cent during the first six months ie, July-Dec 2017 compared with the same period of last year. The government and industry officials' attribute the growth in the overall manufacturing sector largely to an increase in local demand of pr...
Foreign producers may find Ethiopian raw materials difficult to secure
Cement companies in Ethiopia may in future need mining rights from local regional governments as well as Central government to excavate raw materials. The administration of the East Shewa Zone with the Oromia region, for example, has written to foreign cement firms that mine pumice for cement production to cede some of their operations to the cooperatives of unemployed youths in their are...
Moroccan cement demand declines 4% in January
Cement consumption in Morocco fell 4.4 per cent in January to 1,114,857t from 1,166,184t in January 2016, according to the country’s Ministry of Housing and Urbanisation. In the country’s largest market, Casablanca-Settat, sales fell 8.6 per cent to 254,328t. However, a more positive development was noted in Marrakech-Safi, which saw demand expand by 9.6 per cent to 155,173t. Rabat-Salé-Kén...
PPC Zimbabwe to keep Colleen Bawn plant open
Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC), has cancelled plans to shut down its Colleen Bawn cement plant in Gwanda, Zimbabwe, following talks with the government. Late last year PPC Zimbabwe had suggested the possibility of closing the factory in Matabeleland, citing pressure from cheap imported clinker, smuggling of cement products and high local manufacturing costs. "We have continued to engage t...
Indian cement sees growth in industrial production table
The Indian cement industry shows recovery in production during the current financial year contrary to last financial year. According to the Indian Economic Survey 2017-18, which tracks output of the country's eight core industries, the domestic cement sector saw a production growth of 0.6 per cent during the period April-November 2017-18. This compares to -1.2 per cent in FY16-17 (April-March...
CCI finds six companies have formed a cartel
In a preliminary investigation, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has found that six cement companies have formed a cartel. Although this enquiry focussed on the northeast region it will widen to other locations, reports the Business Standard. "In fresh investigations, six large cement manufacturing firms have been found to be forming a cartel," said a source close to the developmen...
Brazil sales slip in January
Brazilian cement sales were down 0.1 per cent YoY to 4.33Mt in January 2018, according to the country’s cement association, SNIC. Average sales per working day increased 0.2 per cent but apparent consumption fell 0.5 per cent to 4.44Mt. The results were in line with SNIC’s expectations, with sales expected to fall in 1Q18 before seeing increases in the 2Q18. In the 12 months ending ...
SMT Shipping begins Cymbidium cement shipments
SMT Shipping, a specialist in cement carriers, self-loading and self-discharging bulkers, and transshipment vessels, has begun operating its new 7800dwt self-discharging bulker named "Cymbidium". The Cymbidium was delivered by the Royal Bodewes group in early January for trade in the Caribbean region. The ship loaded her first cargo in Aalborg, Denmark, but is destined for deployment serving...
Construction activity to be disrupted in Andhra Pradesh
Construction activity in Andhra Pradesh, India is expected to face disruption after the cost of cement has risen by INR20-30 (US$0.3-0.4)/50kg bag. The price hike, which has taken place over the last two months, includes other construction materials such as steel and hardware materials. Over 5000t of cement is purchased every month in the Amaravati region of the state, according to The Hans...
Kenyan President Kenyatta inaugurates US$280m clinker plant
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta inaugurated a new cement clinker plant on 7 February. National Cement Co invested US$280m in the 1.2Mta clinker plant as well as a 15MW power plant, located between Merrueshi and Mbirikani, Kajiado County, south of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. Mr Kenyatta said: “These jobs will teach our young people vital skills. These jobs will build the economy of this c...
Cement retails above government price in Côte d’Ivoire
Cement currently retails at XOF5000 (US$9.32)/50kg bag in most stores in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, according to Alerte info. The higher price, which contravenes the government-set price of XOF4500/bag, has been charged to customers since July 2017, reports the newspaper.
Argentina’s cement dispatches up 17% in January
Argentine cement producers dispatches 1,030,280t of cement, including exports, in January, up 3.2 per cent MoM and 17.3 per cent YoY, according to AFCP, the country’s cement association. The domestic market (including imports) expanded by 3.9 per cent MoM and 19.4 per cent YoY as manufacturers delivered 1,043,651t. Private consultants expect the market to continue its growth path in the ne...
Ukraine reduces counterfeit cement
The share of counterfeit cement in Ukraine decreased to eight per cent in 2017 from 21.5 per cent in 2014, according to Ukrcement, the country’s cement association. "According to data for 2017, the distribution of the packaged cement market between factory and non-factory cement has changed for the first time since 2011. The study showed that last year 72.8 per cent of the cement market acc...
Cabo Delgado plant runs at third of its capacity
Lack of demand has caused a cement plant in Mozambique to operate at a third of its capacity, according to Macauhub. The 0.25Mta facility was commissioned in October 2016 and represents an investment of US$24m. Despite its capability, the Cabo Delgado plant is producing just 300tpd. The low production level has been attributed to subdued demand in the northern region of the country. Paulo W...
Pakistan cement industry records highest capacity utilisation in 7MFY17-18
The capacity utilisation of the Pakistani cement industry during the first seven months of this fiscal reached 91.3 per cent, the highest since 2004-05, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers’ Association (APCMA). The association also released data for January 2017, when total cement dispatches of 4.084Mt included 3.737Mt of domestic consumption with the balance being exported. D...