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East African prospects

16 June 2020, Published under Cement News

The east African cement markets of Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi and Burundi have continued to experience rising levels of cement consumption over recent years with investments in infrastructure and affordable housing. However, the COVID-19 crisis is likely to take its toll on cement consumption growth in 2020. Uganda has both one of the largest economies and cement industries in East Africa, with capacity growth fuelled by growing confidence on the back of expected oil revenues The...

Southeast Asia’s capacity conundrum

09 June 2020, Published under Cement News

Southeast Asia’s vibrant cement industry faces a serious but not insurmountable challenge from the current COVID-19 pandemic. In the long-run, structural overcapacity will be the key force of change, as it exerts pressure on business models, forces consolidation and calls time on new capacity. Figure 1: ASEAN GDP growth rates, 2019A-2021F Southeast Asia, which in this article relates primarily to the 10 nations making up the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) includ...

Malaysia – finding its resolve

02 June 2020, Published under Cement News

Within southeast Asia, Malaysia represents one of the largest consumers of cement per capita. The lacklustre demand trends seen in the past 4-5 years were forecast to ameliorate in 2020 due to an influx of government-backed projects. However, as COVID-19 wreaks havoc on economies and industries, the impact on demand remains to be seen. By Manas Tamotia, LEK Consulting, Singapore. Given that Malaysia’s cement sector was showing a resolve to rationalise and yield long-term value, LEK...

Impact of COVID-19 on global cement markets

01 June 2020, Published under Cement News

Over the course of just a few months the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the global cement market landscape completely and, as the situation continues to unfold, visibility is low. Within the context of this unprecedented experience, Paul Roger, head of Exane BNP Paribas’ building materials team, gives his view on cement demand growth in 2020 and 2021, as well as thoughts on whether cement pricing will hold and what the industry can do to protect cash flow. He also underlines why...

Colombia: market in transition

18 May 2020, Published under Cement News

Following a poor performance in recent years, the Colombian cement sector seems to be on the cusp of a new era. Although the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is yet to be understood, a steady pipeline of construction projects over the next few years should support rising cement prices and a positive cement demand forecast, argues Bancolombia. By Jairo Julian Aquedelo Restrepo, Bancolombia, Colombia. Ecocementos is Colombia’s newest cement market entrant having started operations in ...

Business as unusual

06 May 2020, Published under Cement News

The global coronavirus pandemic has presented the cement and other economic sectors with considerable challenges. Benjamin Sporton, CEO of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), shares his thoughts. By Benjamin Sporton, Global Cement and Concrete Association, UK. The global COVID-19 pandemic is leading to an unprecedented shift in how we exist The global COVID-19 pandemic, in different stages of intensity and development around the world, has presented us with challe...

Nordic cement’s green shoots

04 May 2020, Published under Cement News

The Nordic cement industry is a relatively small player in Europe. Still, its plants are some of the most advanced in the world and are pioneering projects for alternative fuels and carbon capture and storage. The region entered 2020 with expectations of improved sales, driven by infrastructure projects and hopes of a housing recovery. However, the coronavirus pandemic is expected to inhibit this growth. Owned by CRH, Finnsementti’s 1.1Mta cement plant at Parainen saw the domestic mar...

Russia picks up the pace

27 April 2020, Published under Cement News

Following a stagnation of the Russian cement market in recent years, domestic cement producers are expected to see moderate growth in demand in 2020. However, as the government ramps up its national construction projects, market expansion is forecast to accelerate from 2021 onwards. By Alexey Semenov, GS-Expert LLC, Russia. While office construction was down in 2019, other construction markets offset the segment’s decline, resulting in an expanding non-residential construction s...

Betting on better times

21 April 2020, Published under Cement News

Deeply hurt by the Great Recession once high-flying California, Arizona and Nevada cement markets are still cruising at relatively-low altitudes. Can these Southwest US cement markets return to past vitality and eventually to their top-tier status when compared to other states? By Rob Roy, ROI Economic Consulting, USA. While Arizona is expected to see a further decline in cement consumption and California’s demand is showing only moderate growth, Nevada is forecast to lead the reco...

US growth settles down

20 April 2020, Published under Cement News

While the US economic cycle is expected to reach maturity in 2020-21, its construction market is forecast to remain relatively robust. As a result, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) forecasts modest growth for the cement sector in the medium term. By Ed Sullivan, PCA, USA. Figure 1: US economic growth, 2001-23 The United States economy and construction market are expected to remain relatively strong during 2020-21. However, the economy is entering a mature stage in the busin...