Cement News tagged: International
Nepalese government terminates two cement producer licences
The government of Nepal has terminated the licences of two cement producers for selling cement that did not meet the quality standards set by the government. The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) informed that the production licences of Reliance Supertek Cement, Bara, and International Cement Ltd, Parsa, have been terminated. “These two companies even defied our direction to hal...
CMA highlights positive sector prospects and continued sustainability drive
India’s cement industry is providing self-sufficiency and is well-placed to cater to the existing and future demand of cement, according to Marendra Singhi, CMA president, in the opening session of Green Cementech’s 2020 virtual conference on 24-26 June. He highlighted the considerable growth prospects of the country’s cement sector in view of the country’s need for infrastructure and housing ...
Indian cement demand recovers after lockdown
Following the lifting of the coronavirus lockdown in several Indian states, the country’s cement industry is witnessing some pick-up in demand, according to Livemint. Research into the cement dealers’ channel by various brokers has shown that pent-up demand is supporting capacity utilisation levels with rural areas expected to provide a further rise in sales going forward. “Rural and pent-...
Saudi Arabia records 10% demand increase in 5M20
Saudi Arabia’s cement sector has reportedly seen a 10 per cent YoY demand growth in the first five months of 2020, according to Al Rajhi Capital. Qassim Cement and Yanbu Cement saw the highest YoY increase of 21 and 18 per cent, respectively, for the combined period of April and May. However, when comparing the first two months of 1Q20 with the first two months of 2Q20, volumes have decl...
Cement consumption in Vietnam slips 3% YoY in May
Vietnamese cement demand fell by three per cent YoY to 5,680,883t in May 2020, according to the country’s cement association, VNCA. Sales by VICEM saw a two per cent decline to 1,975,476t while offtake from its associates decreased by eight per cent to 1,495,407t YoY. Other VNCA member companies saw a one per cent advance in sales to 2,210,000t in May 2020 when compared with 2,160,000t in May...
Turkmenistan ready to expand two cement plants
The President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has signed resolutions authorising the Ministry of Industry and Construction Production to finalise contracts for the second phase of construction on two cement plants. Both projects reportedly represent a brownfield expansion of 1Mta each. As such, the ministry has awarded Beýik-Bina Individual Enterprise the contract for the design...
Spain’s demand for cement contracts 18% in May
Cement consumption in Spain has fallen 17.8 per cent YoY to 1.144Mt in May as construction works halted in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Oficemen, the country’s cement association. However, cement exports increased 11 per cent YoY while imports fell 55.6 per cent YoY. In May output from domestic cement plants. declined 5.6 per cent YoY to 1.4Mt, when compared with 1.5Mt of...
Pakistan reports weaker export revenues although volumes rise in 11MFY20
The Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) of Pakistan has released cement export data for the eleven months of July 2019 to May 2020 in addition to April production data for 10MFY20. Export revenues declined in dollar terms even though volumes increased, reflecting a weaker global market for cement and clinker. Pakistan's cement industry earned USD242.50m of export revenue by exporting 6.562M...
Bangladesh cement producers demand income tax withdrawal
Bangladesh’s cement manufacturers have urged the government to withdraw the advance income tax (AIT) and high customs duty levied on clinker imports in order to ensure the industry’s survival. In a post-budget press briefing led by the Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA), the industry argued that the non-adjustable AIT (advance income tax), which is authorised under two subsect...
Ethiopia's cement prices begin to stabilise
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has confirmed that cement prices have been stabilising in the country, as a result of regulatory measures taken by the Ministry, according to New Business Ethiopia. Cement prices had almost doubled to around ETB450/50kg bag (US$13) recently, reportedly due to some major suppliers not producing at full capacity and issues with hoarding of the product...
Carthage Cement begins exporting cement to Italy
Tunisia’s Carthage Cement launched its first export shipment of 4100t of EC-certified Portland cement to Italy last Friday. The dispatch is reportedly part of a larger contract to supply 250,000t of cement and clinker to Europe. "Our company has got a certification of the products in compliance with the requirements of the European standards, which has helped us be the first to enter the...
China's cement production rises 9% YoY in May
Cement production increased to 248.69Mt in May 2020, up 11.3 per cent from April and 8.6 per cent from the corresponding period last year, according to the South China Morning Post. The recovery has been attributed to resumed and stronger construction activity, following the lifting of the restrictions put in place by the government control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak earlier thi...
Indian demand decline slows in May
Despite expectations of a significant decline, Indian cement dispatches are estimated to have only fallen by 15-20 per cent in May, compared with an 80-86 per cent drop in the previous month. The positive development has been attributed to pent-up retail demand and the resumption of some construction projects. Cement prices have also been reported to increase by 0.8 per cent MoM in June, acc...
BCMA calls for withdrawal of import tax
The Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA) has called for the withdrawal of a non-adjustable advance income tax (AIT), which is applied at both the import and supply stage, according to The Financial Express. "So far we know this non-adjustable tax is not applicable for any other sectors. I also do not know whether such type of tax is realised in other countries," said BCMA presi...
Planning for 7Mta plant in east Africa continues
Martine Shigela, regional commissioner for Tanga, Tanzania, has confirmed that Sinoma and Hengya Cement have now finalised payment procedures for the residents of Mtimbwani, Mkinga District, as the planning for the largest cement project in east Africa continues. "We want to see this project being implemented and ultimately grow so that residents could benefit economically," said Mr Shigell...
Ghana’s cement producers not benefitting from power relief
Following Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo’s announcement of the introduction of a relief on electricity to support individuals and businesses, cement producers and steel companies located within the Tema Free Zone enclave say they have been denied such government support, considerably affecting their business. The affected parties, including CIMAF Ghana Ltd, have only received a rebate of 22 per...