Cement News tagged: International
Average oil price in 2017 to hover around US$61/bbl, gas at US$3.50/mBtu
Brent oil is expected to average US$61/bbl in 2017, peaking at US$70/bbl during the US driving season while WTI’s average is forecast at around US$59/bbl, according to the latest report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BoAML). This follows last week’s OPEC announcement to cut crude production by 1.2Mbpd with non-OPEC producers supplying an extra 0.6Mbpd. “This joint curb is a first since 1...
Russia: market volume down in St Petersburg and Leningrad
For 2016 cement demand in St Petersburg and Leningrad totalled 3.7Mt, falling short of the 4.3Mt estimated for the year in 2015. The main players in these markets are Eurocement Group, with a 58 per cent share, Cesla (18 per cent), Pikalevskaya Soda (14 per cent) and companies of the Eurocement Group in Belarus (six per cent).
Brazil: Arabian Cement back out of plant project
Arabian Cement announced yesterday that it will be postponing further steps to establish a cement grinding facility in Brazil. The adverse conditions in the Brazilian economy are anticipated to impact negatively on the investment with forecast returns below expectations. The company reported it would be entering a joint venture with Cementos Relampago in 2014. The joint venture was to build...
Bolivian cement demand at 2.6Mta in 9M16
Bolivia’s cement market required 2.663Mt of cement in the first nine months of 2016, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Santa Cruz had the highest demand for the grey product at 867,816t, a third of national consumption. La Paz accounted for an additional 20 per cent or 534,037t and Cochabamba an extra 19 per cent of 521,176t. Domestic cement output reached 2.697Mta...
Nepal: Minister for Industry praises Hetauda Cement
Nepal’s Minister for Industry, Nabindra Raj Joshi, has praised Hetauda Cement Industry for its role in the nation's future, saying “Hetauda Cement Industry is not just a factory as the nation depends on its future.” Stating that Hetauda Cement Industry was established with state investment, he said the products are expected to be of superior quality in comparison to those of private compani...
Vietnam: exports expected to fall 7% in 2016
According to the Vietnam Building Materials Association under the Ministry on Construction, Vietnam is projected to earn just US$556m this year from 15Mt of cement and clinker exports, representing a seven per cent YoY decline. In the first 11 months of this year, Vietnam exported 13.97Mt of cement and clinker, a 5.93 per cent YoY fall as a result of competition from foreign rivals such as ...
Tanzania: three companies plan to expand capacity
With the implementation of several multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects, cement demand looks to soar in the coming years. In light of this three companies have instigated large-scale investment in cement production, which could see domestic production capacity double, according to Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, Charles Mwijage. Mr Mwijage declined to identify who the potentia...
USA: post-election uncertainty lowers consumption forecast
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has lowered its annual growth estimate for 2016 cement consumption from four per cent to 2.7 per cent. It also revised its 2017 US consumption forecast from 4.2 per cent growth down to 3.1 per cent in response to political uncertainty, inflation and slower construction activity. “President-elect Trump continues to shape his cabinet and policies, thus ma...
Belarusian Cement and Eurocement Group sign collaboration contract
Belarusian Cement Company and Eurocement Group, Russia, have signed a contract to regulate cooperation in 2017, according to the Belarusian Architecture and Construction Ministry. The agreement will ensure that deliveries will satisfy Russian demand for Belarusian cement and that 2017 deliveries will be at least as large as those in 2016. The contract was signed by Eurocement Group Presiden...
Report predicts strengthening demand for cement additives in Nigeria and South Africa
A new report by market research firm Frost & Sullivan forecasts that demand for cement additives in South Africa and Nigeria will grow at an annualised rate of 71 per cent as companies look to differentiate themselves from their competitors. "The weak rand and naira are making it expensive for cement additives manufacturers to continue importing products," noted Frost & Sullivan Visionary S...
Argentina sees 1.6 per cent drop in domestic cement dispatches
Argentina’s cement market decreased 8.8 per cent MoM and 1.6 per cent YoY to 1,007,207t in November 2016, according to the country’s cement association, AFCP. In addition, around 5,898t of cement were imported, representing a 0.7 per cent fall MoM but a 36.5 per cent rise YoY. However, domestic cement producers were able to increase export sales by 32.8 per cent MoM and 85.4 per cent YoY as...
India: falling demand and rising petcoke prices threaten profits
The Economic Times reports that petcoke prices – which have risen by over 36 per cent since the start of the year – are likely to put a squeeze on cement company profits. This comes on top of the disastrous impact that the withdrawal of higher denomination rupee notes has had on the economy. The Reserve Bank of India’s failure to provide enough new-style notes has had a profound and negativ...
Tanzania: government supports coal quality complaints
A Tanzanian government-commissioned report has confirmed that the quality of locally-produced coal is questionable. The Commissioner of Minerals tasked an independent committee to establish why major coal users in the country, especially cement manufacturers, prefer imported to local coal. The report follows a government ban on coal imports earlier this year. Minister of Energy and Minerals...
Vietnam: export volumes down 8.4% in 10M16
According to statistics released by the General Department of Vietnam Customs, exports of clinker and cement in the first 10 months of 2016 were down 8.4 per cent on the same period a year earlier, Vinanet reports. In terms of their US dollar-dominated value, the fall was even more pronounced, being down 18.6 per cent. For the year to the end of October, Vietnamese producers exported 12.3Mt...
Pakistan: 98% capacity utilisation rate achieved
The Pakistan cement industry has achieved its highest-ever capacity utilisation rate at 98.61 per cent, dispatching 3.749Mt of cement in November 2016. This is up on the 3.377Mt registered in November 2015. Domestic consumption for the month in question reached 3.27Mt compared with 2.843Mt a year prior. However, exports have experienced a decline, falling 10.39 per cent YoY to 0.478Mt in Novem...
Togo consumer association asks for cement price structure transparency
The Togolese Association of Consumers (TAC) has asked the government to publish the price structure of cement and called for the establishment of a regulatory authority for the cement sector in the country. Despite the national production of the three producers (Cimtogo, WACEM, Fortia) at around 1.5Mta, the supply of cement is experiencing every year severe shortages and speculation about t...