Cement News tagged under: imports

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Iraq can grow with security

23 May 2013, Published under Cement News

With considerable growth potential in the Iraqi cement market, the government is not only keen to rehabilitate the old plants but also aims to encourage new investors to enter the country. However, the task is a difficult one because of the continued political instability, the prospects for further unrest and inadequate energy supplies. Iraq’s cement industry has potential to grow, but it is restricted by political uncertainty and a lack of energy provision Iraq is a nation that...

Saudi Arabian port authorities prepared for cement imports

20 May 2013, Published under Cement News

The Saudi Arabian Ports Authority (PA) has said the kingdom’s commercial ports are prepared to receive cement and clinker shipments following King Abdullah's directive to import 10Mt to end the current supply shortages. PA spokesperson Abdul Rahman Aldrais said the authority has allocated 17 docking stations, with four each in Jeddah, Dammam and Jubail and one in Yanbu, Dhuba and Jazan. He added that the authority has allocated sufficient storage space to temporarily store and handle cement...

Algeria: Gica launches 1.5Mt import tender

07 May 2013, Published under Cement News

Algerian cement company Gica launched a tender for the importation of 1.5Mta of cement with the first delivery of 0.95Mt due early July. The imports are expected to alleviate the cement shortage in the country, which currently has a demand exceeding 20Mt but only 17Mt in national output. Two technical stoppages have occurred during the year and in addition, Lafarge halted operations at two works in the past two weeks. This at a time when Algeria has commenced a housing programme that ...

US February shipments edge ahead

06 May 2013, Published under Cement News

Total shipments of Portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico for February 2013 were about 4.7Mt, slightly more than shipments in February 2012. Shipments for the year through to February 2013 were 9.6Mt, up by nearly three per cent, the latest data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows. The leading Portland cement producing states in February were Texas, California, Florida, Missouri and Alabama in descending order. The leading consuming states (Texas, Califo...

Saudi cement producers urged to maintain reserve supplies

02 May 2013, Published under Cement News

The government of Saudi Arabia is urging cement companies to maintain a strategic stockpile of cement to prevent future shortages. A directive to this effect was issued by the Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, according to local press reports. Each company has has been asked to build up a strategic reserve (equaling a company’s two-month output) in addition to regular market supplies. Companies may face punitive action if they failed to adhere to the latest directives, the...

Saudi orders cement imports to meet shortages

17 April 2013, Published under Cement News

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has ordered 10Mt of cement to be imported into the kingdom to meet cement shortages and the construction of more cement plants over the medium-term is also being encouraged. Citing trade minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah, the Saudi Press Agency, reports that King Abdullah wants three to four cement plants to be built over the next three years and has granted SAR3bn towards the scheme. The Saudi cement industry has quickly grown to support high consumption and i...

Russia: status and prospects

17 April 2013, Published under Cement News

The Russian cement industry is ranked in the world top 10 in terms of cement capacity. Amongst the BRIC nations, Russia is second only to China in terms of per capita cement consumption. In recent years, the industry has witnessed a real turning point with consumption continuing to climb and new capacity being installed. But what does the long-term future hold? By CMPro, Russia. A view of Moscow’s city centre. The capital has developed into modern and bustling city, as the many new...

US January shipments rise 5%

09 April 2013, Published under Cement News

Total shipments of Portland and blended cement in the US and Puerto Rico for January 2013 were up by five per cent to 4.8Mt compared to the same month a year ago, latest data from the US Geological Survey shows. The leading consuming states (Texas, California, Florida, Arizona and Oklahoma, in descending order) received about 46 per cent of the total January shipments. The leading Portland cement-producing states in January were Texas, California, Florida, Missouri and Alabama (in desc...

Nigeria considers new tariff on imports to protect local producers

19 March 2013, Published under Cement News

The Nigerian government is considering imposing a new tariff on imported bulk cement following an influx of volumes which are said to have caused a glut in the market. The current duty on imported bulk cement is 10 per cent, but no levy is imposed on the commodity. Dr Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment, said during a meeting with select ministers on Nigerian business competitiveness organized by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. According to reports by local press, D...

TPCC reports 22% rise in net profit, Tanzania

18 March 2013, Published under Cement News

Tanzania Portland Cement Company Ltd (TPCC), part of HeidelbergCement, posted a 22 per cent increase in net profit despite competition from regional imports. Net profit for the year to December 2012 rose to TZS1.57bn (US$968m) from TZS50.6bn in 2011. Turnover increased 15 per cent to reach TZS249.11bn compared to 217.25bn recorded in the year before. The cost of sales was pushed up by double digit high inflation rates and energy tariffs rising to TZS126.7bn against TZS117.7bn registered in ...