Cement News tagged: International
Bolivia: COBOCE reaches agreement with transport organisations
Bolivian cement co-operative Cooperativa Boliviana de Cemento, Industrias y Servicios (COBOCE) has come to an agreement with cement transport organisations on how its deliveries will be divided among local transport firms in Cochabamba. These firms had been on strike for a week, blocking the main road to Cochabamba, prior to this agreement. Asotram will keep a 30 per cent share, Transpeco a ...
Tajikistan to double production in 2014
In the first six months of the year, Tajikistan produced 496,600t of cement according to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, and is on course to double annual production in 2014. The Yovon cement plant (Huaxin Gayur Cement Co Ltd), which was introduced into operation in late September last year, has reportedly produced 362,800t of cement in January-June, which was more than 70 per ...
Chinese producers counting profits
Cement makers in China saw a resumption in profit growth last year thanks to a combination of improved construction activity, low production costs due to weak coal prices and the government's push to close some inefficient producers. China produced 908.5Mt of cement in the first five months of this year, up 4.1 per cent from a year earlier, official data showed. Wannianqing Cement Co Ltd said...
Construction boosts Kenyan cement demand
In May, cement consumption in the Kenya rose to 450,379t in May, up from 426,523t in April and continuing the upward trend noted since March when demand stood at 387,266t, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). Since the start of the year Kenya has consumed over 2Mt of cement, according to the government agency’s Leading Economic Indicators report. When compared with...
Nigeria: Lafarge to invest US$307m into Ashaka Cement expansion
Ashaka Cement (Lafarge Group) has secured a NGN50bn (US$307m) credit facility, in addition to internally-generated cash flows to expand its cement production base. Umaru Kwairanga, chairman of the Board of AshakaCem plc, disclosed that Lafarge Group was committed to the capacity expansion project in Ashaka and would deploy its global expertise in procurement and erection of new cement pl...
Bangladesh: supply glut or next Asian cement hub?
The high demand for quality cement in Asian markets has lured Bangladesh companies into expanding production capacity at their local factories or installing new plants. As a result the installed capacity of the local manufacturers far outstrips domestic demand, making the country self reliant in cement supply. "Bangladesh could be Asian hub of cement thanks to better quality and diversifica...
The Philippines has to rebuild but must check cement price rises
The Phillipine opposition has urged the government to guard against profiteering in the supply of cement as prices of the commodity continue to escalate. House Deputy Minority Leader and Isabela Rep, Rodolfo Albano III warned against its adverse effect on the economy and its impact on current infrastructure projects being pursued by the Aquino government and the private sector. “Government re...
Eurocement Group to build US$128m plant in Uzbekistan
Eurocement Group Holding of Russia is constructing a cement plant worth US$128m in Uzbekistan for its daughter enterprise Ahangarancement in the Tashkent region. Uzstroymateriali JSC, which unites contruction material industry enterprises in the country, said the new 2.4Mta cement plant will use dry-process technology. Eurocement Group has signed an agreement with Chinese China CAMC Engineeri...
Ghana: Dangote Takoradi and Tema plants to halt shortages
Following news of Ghana's difficulties to keep up with cement demand, Tajudeen Sijuede, vice chairman of Dangote Cement Ghana, has acquired the land rights for a new 1.5Mta grinding and bagging plant in Takoradi, western region. This facility will complement the company's recently-completed grinding unit in Tema, which is ramping up to its 1.5Mta capacity. Mr Sijuede said: “We are esta...
Paraguay: Yguazú risks production halt due to flooding
The flooding of the Paraguay river and the Confuso river, which broke its banks, is presenting a risk to the continued production at the Yguazú cement plant in Paraguay, according to the Ultima Hora news service. The plant’s quay was out of action for about 20 days before the advance of the water as the flooding necessitated cutting off the power used to operate the crane used for unloading...
Cemex Philippines wins Sopi safety award
The Safety Organisation of the Philippines Inc (SOPI) recently cited Cemex with an Outstanding Road Safety Programme award for the cement company's consistent efforts in promoting a culture of safety in its operations and surrounding communities. “At the end of the day, our goal is always to go home safe. We want everybody to go home unharmed to their families. We at Cemex live and breathe ou...
Stable Swiss cement shipments in 2Q14
In the second quarter of 2014, domestic deliveries by the Swiss cement industry reached 98.1 per cent in the same period last year. Despite the Easter break, which sometimes causes a 2-3 per cent decline in demand, deliveries were virtually stable in 2014 to date. The weather has been favourable, but construction in 1H14 saw an increase of cement supplies by 6.4 per cent compared to the sam...
Egypt: Gas prices increase for cement firms
The government has raised gas prices for Egyptian cement factories to US$8/m British Thermal Units (BTUs) compared to US$6 previously, while fuel oil increased from EGP1500/t (US$209.8/t) to EGP2250/t (US$314.7/t). An official cement company spokesperson anticipated cement prices to increase in the coming days due to higher production costs. A number of cement companies operating in Egypt are...
Pakistan: good FY14 with positive outlook for FY15
Domestic cement sales in the last month of FY14 jumped 14.32 per cent to 2.53Mt compared to 2.21Mt during June 2013. Exports were also up, although at a more modest rate of 2.9 per cent, reaching 685,000t, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association. For the full-year, cement sales in Pakistan increased 4.32 per cent to 26.14Mt from 25.06Mt the previous year. Exports decl...
New cement plant for Venezuela to be inaugurated
The Iranian Mines and Mining Development and Renovation Organisation (IMIDRO) is to inaugurate a cement plant in Venezuela within the next few months, says Mehdi Karbasian, IMIDRO's managing director. The Iranian organisation has provided technical services and engineering to the greenfield plant in Servasul. The 1Mta factory was instigated by IMIDRO after signing an agreement to establish ...
Ghacem denies any responsibility for cement shortage
Responding to the local reports on Ghana's possibility of facing a cement shortage, Ghacem has refused suggestions that it has reduced production. The company has denied speculation that it had contributed to any shortage and claims that it currently has an output of 58,000t of cement per week. In an interview with the company’s strategy and corporate affairs director, Dr George Dawson-Ahmoa...