Cement News tagged under: Southern Africa

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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.

PPC to build 30MW solar plant in Zimbabwe

27 January 2022, Published under Cement News

South Africa-based PPC will build a 30MW solar power facility at its Colleen Bawn clinker plant in Zimbabwe as part of its decarbonisation strategy. The clinker works will use 15MW for its own power needs and feed the balance into the Zimbabwean electricity grid. The project complements the Zimbabwean government’s drive to increase power generation in the country, important in achieving its Vision 2030 goals. Work on the solar plant is expected to start this year. “At Colleen Bawn in Z...

PPC posts better-than-expected 1H in Zimbabwe

25 November 2021, Published under Cement News

South Africa-based PPC has said its cement sales volume in Zimbabwe surpassed expectations as sales increased by 19 per cent in the six months to September as cement demand in the African country saw double-digit growth. Individual customers as well as government projects drove the increase in sold volumes. Compared with the equivalent period in 2019, PPC’s sales volumes advanced 31 per cent. As a result, revenue increased by 55 per cent to ZAR1.2bn (US$75.7m). PPC received US$2.7m in divide...

Lafarge Mauritius and Kolos reduce cement price

30 September 2021, Published under Cement News

After Mauritius-based cement importer Kolos Cement Ltd dropped its retail price for Eco Plus cement from MUR143.84/bag (US$3.37/bag) to MUR135.84, Lafarge Mauritius has announced a decrease in the retail price of two of its products from 1 October 2021. Baobab 6, a 22.5-grade cement, will see its retail price reduced from MUR142.40 to MUR134.60 while Baobab Mazik, a 32.5-grade cement, will be sold at MUR139.80, down from MUR147.90. “This decision was taken after the company and the Commer...

PPC not to raise capital and focus on growth

29 September 2021, Published under Cement News

South Africa-based PPC has successfully refinanced its debt and is close to finalising its restructuring. Therefore, the company will not require a capital raise, said its CEO, Roland van Wijnen. The new debt facilities of ZAR2.1bn have an extended maturity profile with the long-term facility of ZAR1.5bn being repayable over 3-5 years. The margins were reduced across all facilities to reflect PPC’s improved credit risk profile. “The organisation is now in calmer seas after a hectic 18 mo...

Cement sales stabilise in South Africa in the 3Q20

08 June 2021, Published under Cement News

Sales of cementitious products in South Africa edged up 0.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2020 to 3,457,438t when compared with 3,447,822t in the 3Q19, according to Levitt Kirson Business Services Pty Ltd. This followed a 42.5 per cent YoY drop in the 2Q20, when dispatches declined to 1,877,298t from 3,264,718t in the 2Q19. Sales in the 9M20 reached 7.719Mt, down 19.7 per cent when compared with the 9M19, when sales reached 9.619Mt. Full-year sales in 2019 fell seven per cent to 12.726...

Zambezi Portland Cement produces 1.2Mt

04 June 2021, Published under Cement News

Output from Zambia-based Zambezi Portland Cement reached 1.2Mta following the EUR23m capacity expansion project at the Ndola plant, which has seen an extra 100 staff employed. Zambezi Portland Cement CEO, Gomeli Litana, said the increase would help meet the growing demand for the product in both local and regional markets, according to the Times of Zambia.

Sino Energy International eyes Mozambican cement plant

23 November 2020, Published under Cement News

China-based Sino Energy International Holdings Group Ltd has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sino-Harbor Construction Group (Hong Kong) Ltd for the acquisition of a 65 per cent stake in a 0.4Mta cement plant in Pemba, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, according to its statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Sino Energy now has 120 days to review the plant’s accounts before deciding whether to sign a definitive purchase agreement, reports CE Noticias Financieras. Si...

PPC settles cement cartel case

16 November 2020, Published under Cement News

PPC has reached a settlement agreement with South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on the cement cartel case, bringing the 12-year matter to a close, reports Business Weekly. The agreement comes after the competition launched a probe into anti-competitive behaviour in the cement industry in 2008. PPC, along with competitors LafargeHolcim, AfriSam and Natal Portland Cement Cimphor (NPC), allegedly agreed to divide the South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia markets in 1995. The ...

PPC sees group revenue decline 2% YoY

16 October 2020, Published under Cement News

South Africa-based PPC has seen its group revenue decline two per cent YoY to ZAR10.241bn (US$618.23m) in the year ending 31 March 2020, compared with ZAR10.494bn in the previous year. Excluding Zimbabwe, revenue fell seven per cent from ZAR9.047bn to ZAR8.380bn, mainly due to a decline in revenues from South Africa cement. Furthermore, the company posted a loss of ZAR2.39bn in the FY19-20 against a ZAR162m profit in the year-ago period. Cost of sales declined three per cent YoY to ZAR8.2...