Cement News tagged under: international
Cement looks solid03 April 2006, Published under Cement NewsThe demand for cement in India continues to grow and despatches of major companies have been showing a concrete trend. With strong demand having firmed up cement prices, shares of the companies have done well on the bourses. Over the past month, the major gainers from the sector have been Grasim (up 13.16 per cent), Gujarat Ambuja (13.77 per cent), ACC (14.49 per cent), UltraTech (16.57 per cent) and India Cements (5.81 per cent). With the continued thrust on housing and infrastructure, the ... |
EBRD to own 20 per cent of Garagah03 April 2006, Published under Cement NewsThe European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will purchase 20 per cent of the stock owned by Holcim, which gained a controlling interest in the company back in 1999 following privatisation. The factory’s Director General, Uve Kehler told local news reporters that 89.4 per cent of stocks are owned by the company and the rest by small stock holders, he said. The total cost of the deal is just US$10m; it will be approved at the EBRD Council of Directors meeting on April 25. EBRD... |
Buzzi Unicem 2005 net profit jumps31 March 2006, Published under Cement NewsItalian cement and construction firm Buzzi Unicem posted a 46 per cent increase in 2005 net income to Euro 255.6m, helped by growing cement sales, it said in a statement on Thursday. The group, whose operations span Italy, the United States, Mexico and Russia, said it proposed a dividend of Euro 0.32 per ordinary share and Euro 0.344 per savings share. Group revenues rose 6.5 per cent to Euro 2.95bn. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation came in at Euro 801m. Cement... |
US cement import quotas from Mexico31 March 2006, Published under Cement NewsThe agreement between Mexico and the US to end their 16-year dispute over cement exports will come into force April 3 and the Mexican government has published the list of export quotas in its official gazette. Signed at the start of this month by US secretary of commerce Carlos Gutiérrez and Mexico’s minister of economy, Sergio García, the agreement means that Mexican companies will be allowed to export 3 million tonnes (Mt) per year of cement to the US, paying duty of US$3/t instead of the... |
Cement prices firming up on strong demand31 March 2006, Published under Cement NewsIndian cement prices are once again displaying signs of firmness in several cities. This time, strong demand in the pre-monsoon period, rather than rising freight costs for manufacturers, appears to be the primary driving factor for higher cement prices. Retail cement prices in Mumbai are currently pegged at Rs 230-235 a bag, analysts said. This indicates an increase of about Rs 8-10 a bag over the past 15-18 days. On similar lines, in Delhi, cement is currently quoting at Rs 205-210 a bag... |
Cement crisis no surprise31 March 2006, Published under Cement NewsEllis Hazel, said the current cement crisis in the Caribbean “did not just creep up on” the region. “It was showing signs that we would have a crisis, especially leading up to World Cup 2007,” Hazel told the communications unit in the Office of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts/Nevis. Appearing on ‘National Echo’ on Monday, Hazel said a number of the private sector bodies in the Caribbean have approached the Caricom secretariat for the “green light to go ahead and import cement from non-Caric... |
Albert Frere keeps building Lafarge stake30 March 2006, Published under Cement NewsAlbert Frere, the Belgian entrepreneur, has increased his stake in Lafarge to more than eight per cent in a move that throws into question the future of the world’s largest cement group. Mr Frere first took a 6.5 per cent stake in Lafarge in January, sparking rumours of management changes or possible bids for the building materials group. He is often seen as a catalyst for change in the companies he targets. Albert Frere has been one of the biggest investors in Suez, the power and water... |
Five banks sign for new line30 March 2006, Published under Cement NewsFive commercial banks signed a contract in Hanoi on March 29 to provide US$120m for a project to build the second line of the Chinfon Hai Phong Cement Plant in the northern city of Hai Phong. Of the total, the Bank of Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) will contribute US$60m, the Vietnam Industrial and Commercial Bank (ICB) $US24m and three others including the Asian Commercial Bank (ACB, the Southeast Asian Bank (SEA Bank) and the Bangkok Bank - Hanoi branch, $12m each. The pro... |
Philippine producers cry wolf30 March 2006, Published under Cement NewsThe Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CEMAP) has asked the Trade department to reconsider its plans of giving incentives to new cement producers, saying existing cement producers could meet the projected demand for cement until 2010. In a letter to Trade Sec. Peter B. Favila, CEMAP President Ernesto M. Ordonez said giving incentives to new cement producers under the 2006 Investments Priorities Plan will disadvantage existing producers whose capacities are underutilized. ... |
Experts forecast higher Russian output30 March 2006, Published under Cement NewsRussia will produce around 53Mt of cement, according to Eurocement Group experts. This is a 9.0 per cent increase on the previous year’s 48.5Mt. A record high output of 83Mt of cement in Russia was recorded in 1990, but it was followed by a protracted slump. In 1998, cement output fell to 25.9Mt. The steady growth in cement production, begun in 1999, is continuing, averaging 10 per cent in annual terms. |