Cement News tagged under: South Africa

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InterCement records total cement and clinker volumes of 20.1Mt in 2021

21 March 2022, Published under Cement News

InterCement ’s total cement and clinker volume reached 20.1Mt in 2021, an increase of six per cent in comparison to 2020, while in 4Q21 volumes were at solid 5.1Mt, stable when compared to 4Q20. In Argentina cement industry remained on a strong pace during the quarter, with Loma Negra volumes up four per cent YoY.     Brazilian volumes, although declining by 3.7 per cent YoY, remained on a healthy level, backed by solid demand as result of strong backlog from housing sector and posit...

AfriSam hosts annual budget breakdown event

03 March 2022, Published under Cement News

Speaking at AfriSam ’s recent National Budget Breakdown function, an annual event now in its fifth year, Dr Azar Jammine, director and chief economist of Econometrix, gave a thumbs up to the 2022 budget, saying it was “highly satisfactory with no harm.” Howeverm he cautioned that servicing the national debt was becoming increasingly onerous and now accounted for 14 per cent of government expenditure. He also expressed the view that there was nothing in the budget "to make one believe sus...

South Africa’s long walk to recovery

08 February 2022, Published under Cement News

While 2021 saw some pick-up in South Africa’s cement market, analysts do not expect a full recovery before mid-2024. By Industry Insight, South Africa. As the COVID-19 mutation Omicron sweeps through the country, South African cement producers see market recovery postponed (Photo credit: AfriSam) The South African economy remains in crisis. Although there was a recovery in local production and consumption in 2021, record lows due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a lockdown-ravage...

AfriSam executive calls for responsible cement manufacture

01 February 2022, Published under Cement News

Hannes Meyer, cementitious executive at leading cement producer AfriSam, calls for improved an circular economy, responsible manufacturing practices and a level playing field for South African cement producers on carbon emissions. “To produce this valuable resource, we must start with mining our own deposits. We then process the ingredients through complex technologies that demand considerable financial investment and expertise,” he says.  The range of products that result must form ...

South African cement imports up 19% in 11M21

01 February 2022, Published under Cement News

Cement imports into South Africa surged to their highest level in 2021 as they reached 161,555t in November despite the government drive to use domestically-produced product and banning imported cement from public sector construction projects. In October 2021 imports were significantly lower at 34,964t, down from 151,452t in the previous month. In the 11M21 imports volumes expanded 18.7 per cent YoY to 1.097Mt with product coming mainly from Vietnam and Pakistan.

Natal Portland Cement secures five-year loan

27 December 2021, Published under Cement News

As part of Natal Portland Cement’s (NPC) strategy to enhance its capital structure and investments opportunities, company CEO  and Chairman, Matias Cardell has announced the approval of a five-year loan by Standard Bank totalling ZAR500m (US$32.1m). “This transaction shows recognition from the largest South African bank on NPC’s solid results and our ability to generate sustainable cash flows," added Mr Cardell. “Thanks to the turnaround process we began in 2019, we have shown that man...

InterCement's cement volumes remain stable in 3Q21 at 5.4Mt

01 December 2021, Published under Cement News

InterCement reports that its total cement volume remained at a solid 5.4Mt in the 3Q21, reflecting stability YoY due to the sizeable comparison base of last year, when post pandemic pent-up demand enhanced the base.     The cement industry in Argentina remained on a strong pace, with Loma Negra volumes up   eight per cent YoY, helped by some recovery of bulk segment. Argentine volumes expanded by 8.4 per cent versus the 3Q20.  InterCement’s Brazilian volumes sold reached 2.5Mt, despite...

Pakistani cement exporters face several challenges

24 November 2021, Published under Cement News

The exports of cement and clinker from Pakistan have been affected by several factors, including a change in political set-up in Afghanistan, the persistent deadlock in trade between Islamabad and Delhi, anti-dumping duties, and the financial crunch in Sri Lanka, according to Inayat Ullah Niazi, CFO of DG Khan Cement. DG Khan exports its products to Afghanistan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. As a result total cement exports declined by 40.4 p...

PPC sees 20% YoY rise in revenue

23 November 2021, Published under Cement News

South Africa’s PPC Ltd has announced a 20 per cent YoY increase in revenue to ZAR5.13bn (US$324.5m) in the first half of the year, ended 30 September, compared with ZAR4.27bn in the year-ago period. The results were supported by a 12 per cent YoY rise in cement volumes. Group EBITDA advanced 13 per cent to ZAR945m from ZAR839m. Roland van Wijnen, CEO, said: "Team PPC delivered a solid performance, showing results from our efforts to reposition the business and ensure financial sustainabilit...

Western Cape provincial government challenges cement import ban

10 November 2021, Published under Cement News

South Africa’s Western Cape provincial government has reportedly challenged the recent decision by the National Treasury to ban the use of imported cement for state-awarded contracts, saying there was no consultation before the decision, according to Business Day. The provincial government noted that the ban is likely to cause price hikes and therefore, make projects more expensive. The move came after local cement producers argued that cheap imports were harming their businesses. The b...