Cement News tagged under: Colombia

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Cayman Islands expands import list to counter cement shortage

21 July 2021, Published under Cement News

The Cayman Islands has added three countries to its list of approved cement providers to help ease shortages currently being experienced by the domestic construction industry. The Customs & Border Control (Prohibited Goods) (Amendment) Order 2021 has added Colombia, Cuba and Panama as authorised countries for the purposes of importing cement. "The PACT Government is committed to supporting sustainable development, lowering construction costs and encouraging increased Caymanian home ownersh...

Cement dispatches in Colombia up 16% in May

01 July 2021, Published under Cement News

Colombian cement sales increased 15.5 per cent YoY to 815,400t in May 2021 from 705,900t in May 2020, according to the country’s statistics office, DANE. When compared with May 2019 there was a 22.7 per cent drop from 1.055Mt.   The offtake by ready-mix concrete companies surged 45.6 per cent, while construction companies and contractors increased their purchases by 15.7 per cent. Sales to the retail sector edged up by 5.6 per cent.   Cement production advanced 13.1 per cent to 880,4...

Argos cement exports to the USA grow by 419%

17 June 2021, Published under Cement News

For Argos, the Grupo Argos cement company, exports have been a key element in the process towards recuperation after the effects generated by COVID-19 and, in the first five months of the year, the cement company's exports to the USA grew by 419 per cent, from 26,000t to 135,000t. In the particular case of the USA, there has been a rebound in the demand for cement and it is estimated that this industry will grow by 2.2 per cent in 2021. It should be noted that the company has a competi...

Colombian demand more than triples in April

04 June 2021, Published under Cement News

Colombia’s grey cement market expanded by 333.5 per cent in April 2021 as demand reached 1.051Mt, according to the country’s statistics agency, DANE. In April 2020 consumption fell to 242,400t as demand contracted sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Domestic cement production quadrupled to 1.236Mt in April 2021 from a low base of 198,900t in April 2020 when the industry was affected by the pandemic. January-April 2021 Cement consumption in the first four months of 2021 rebounded to 4....

Argos sees high 1Q21 cement volumes in Colombia and Central America

11 May 2021, Published under Cement News

In the 1Q21 Argos recorded consolidated income of US$651.6m and EBITDA was US$125.1m. This was thanks to better dynamics in all markets and a lower comparison base in Colombia, and the Caribbean and Central America.   Cement volumes reached 4.1Mt, thus representing an increase of 19 per cent compared to the 1Q20. Cconcrete shipments totalled 2Mm 3 , with a decrease of 4.4 per cent, mainly caused by weather conditions in the USA and a slower recovery of formal construction in Colomb...

Colombian cement consumption advances 61% in March

10 May 2021, Published under Cement News

Cement sales in Colombia increased 60.7 per cent to 1.189Mt in March 2021 from 0.74Mt in March 2020, according to DANE, the country’s statistics office. Sales in the retail sector were up 76 per cent YoY while ready-mix concrete companies saw a 47 per cent hike. Construction companies and contractors increased their offtake by 39.6 per cent YoY. Sales in Bogotá increased by 64.1 per cent YoY while Cundinamarca posted a similar increase of 64.9 per cent. Valle del Cauca saw its market expan...

Grupo Argos formalises COP392bn sustainable linked loan

28 April 2021, Published under Cement News

Grupo Argos and Bancolombia signed the first loan agreement tied to sustainability indicators in Colombia, where the interest rate is tied to the company’s performance on gender equality and climate change, in a financing agreement that modifies current conditions for close to COP392bn (US$106m) in debt and will have a five-year maturity. In this regard, the operation does not increase Grupo Argos' current levels of indebtedness.   This transaction recognises Grupo Argos' track record an...

Colombian cement market expands 5% in February

06 April 2021, Published under Cement News

Cement dispatches in Colombia increased 5.3 per cent to 1.079Mt in February 2021 when compared with 1.025Mt in February 2020, according to the country’s statistics office, DANE. Bagged cement sales were up by 11.8 per cent in February but bulk sales fell 7.2 per cent YoY. The retail sector accounted for all of this growth, with sales expanding by 16.9 per cent. In contrast, there was an 11 per cent drop in offtake by ready-mix concrete companies while sales to construction companies and co...

Argos launches Soluciones Verdes

18 March 2021, Published under Cement News

Argos officially launched its Green Solutions portfolio 'Soluciones Verdes' following a webinar on 17 March. The Colombian cement producer outlined how it will produce more environmentally-friendly products and services building towards a more sustainable future. The initiative aims to provide actions, products and services to reduce carbon emissions, adapting to natural phenomena, contributing to the circular economy and promoting well-being and comfort solutions.  Green cement will be a...

Argos signs COP160bn ESG-linked performance loan with BBVA

15 March 2021, Published under Cement News

BBVA and Argos (Grupo Argos) signed a long-term financing agreement through a sustainable loan in an ESG-linked format for COP160bn (US$44.8m) where the loan includes a pricing adjustment mechanism that links the interest rate to the company’s ESG performance. This transaction is the first of its kind in Colombia and constitutes Grupo Argos' debut in sustainable financing. The loan granted by BBVA in Colombia to Cementos Argos includes an adjustment mechanism through which the int...