Cement News tagged: International
Gas supply deal with LafargeHolcim reported to impact Bangladeshi industry
Specialists have raised the red flag over the Bangladeshi government's gas supply deal with LafargeHolcim Ltd as the 20-year agreement has been threatening the competitive advantage of local cement manufacturers, reports the Daily Sun. Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Ltd (JGTDSL) signed the gas supply agreement with the cement major in 2003, but in view of current gas shor...
The WCA welcomes Anhui Conch Cement as a member
The World Cement Association (WCA) announced today that Anhui Conch Cement Company, also known as Conch Cement, has joined the global organisation as a founding member. The WCA now represents more than 1bnt of cement production capacity with its members from 35 countries. "Conch Cement's efficient operation and pioneering management and its efforts to work towards the sustainable developmen...
Haiti bans cement imports by road from the Dominican Republic
This week there was a chaotic scene on the Dominican Republic-Haiti border as over 20 Dominican products, including cement, were barred from entering the French-speaking Caribbean nation. According to Haitian officials, the ban on 23 products from the Dominican Republic is nothing new and they are only banned from entering by road. Haiti's Finance Ministry says the measures are adopted to...
Cement prices rise in Nepal
The price of cement in Hetauda, Bhairahawa and Biratnagar has risen by up to NPR160 (US$1.56)/bag, according to The Kathmandu Post. Cement producers claim this to be the result of the higher cost of raw materials such as clinker, gypsum and fly ash. However, some consumers have alleged that the price hike is artificial and cartelisation is to blame. "Manufacturers collude with each other to...
Sri Lanka consumption down by 29% in October
Cement sales in Sri Lanka fell 29.2 per cent YoY to 566,000t in October, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The drop follows a gain of 30.6 per cent YoY to 763,460t in September after falling for three consecutive months until August. In 8M17 sales reached 1.942Mt, down 9.1 per cent when compared with the equivalent period of the previous year. However, the bank’s governor, Dr ...
Brazil cement market faces subdued recovery
Following three years of strong market contraction, Brazil’s cement producers may still face some months of weak demand before a pick-up in sales emerges. Brazil’s cement association, SNIC, estimates total sales growth for 2018 between 1-2 per cent, barely making up for the 24.2 per cent contraction since its 71Mta peak in 2014. In 2017 cement sales fell 6.4 per cent to 53.8Mt. An effec...
Vietnam cement consumption reaches 62Mt in 2017
Vietnam’s demand for cement increased seven per cent YoY to 62Mt in 2017, according to the Department of Price Management, Ministry of Finance. The rise in cement sales has been attributed to a rise in construction projects, particularly in the real estate and transport sector. However, when compared with 2016, the increase was marginal as prolonged rains and storms impacted sales. Ceme...
Mexican cement producers raise prices
At the start of the new year, Mexican cement producers have raised the price of grey cement between 6-10 per cent, according to Ramiro Páez Cruz, president of the Mexican Association of Independent Concrete Co (AMCI). Cruz Azul and Fortaleza raised the prices of their products by five per cent while the increase by Cemex, Moctezuma and Holcim was 6.25, seven and 10 per cent, respectively. ...
Azerbaijani cement producers raise prices
Norm and Holcim Azerbaijan have raised the price of their cement by 5-6 per cent from 25 December, according to AF Euro Home. The cost of grade 300 cement increased from AZN5 (US$2.96) to AZN5.30. Grade 400 cement is now priced at AZN6.30, up from AZN6. No reasons for the price hike were disclosed.
Cheetah Cement to commence operations in Namibia
Cheetah Cement's new facility in Otjiwarongo is starting the rock blasting process as it prepares to begin operations this month. The new plant represents a total investment of US$350m and was constructed by Whale Rock Cement, according to the Namibia Economist. Plans for the project were first announced in 2015 when a memorandum of understanding was signed with between Cheetah Cement and...
Swiss cement sales slip 3% in 2017
Cement deliveries in Switzerland saw a 2.8 per cent fall to in 2017 as Cemsuisse reports a domestic sales volume of 4.3Mta. The drop follows a 4.2 per cent rise in 2016. The initial drop in the 1H17 was partly absorbed in the 2H17, but the 4Q17 saw a 0.8 per cent decline. Cemsuisse said the share of rail transport increased YoY to account for 53.3 per cent of all deliveries.
Builders' Association of India seeks cement regulator
To secure the smooth expansion of India's construction sector, the Builders' Association of India (BAI) highlighted the need for creating a cement regulator. Subcontractors in the construction sector are still levied a general sales tax (GST) of 18 per cent, according to the BAI, who emphasised the need to reduce the tax. The establishment of a cement regulatory authority will help cont...
New projects to take total Ugandan output to 6.8Mta
A number of projects in Uganda are expected to commence operation this year, taking total cement production to 6.8Mta from 3.6Mta, reports Ugandan newspaper The Independent. Hima Cement’s new 1Mta facility in Tororo is expected to open in 1Q18 and will take the company’s overall capacity to 1.8Mta. Meanwhile, Tororo Cement is awaiting a capacity increase to 3Mta from 1.9Mta through a plant ...
Pakistan sees an increase in total cement dispatches for 2H17
The Pakistan cement sector experienced sales growth in July-December 2017 with total dispatches reaching 22.24Mt from 19.8Mt in the year-ago period, reports Business Recorder. In the final six months of 2017, domestic consumption reached 19.83Mt which is an increase from 16.89Mt in the corresponding period of the previous year. However, the decline in exports has continued with a drop of 17...
Tajikistan produced 3Mt of cement in 2017
Tajikistan’s cement factories turned out 3Mt of cement in 2017 and exported some 1Mt of this output. Domestic deliveries were primarily used in the construction of hydraulic structures, roads and bridges as well as housing. The country’s demand is estimated at 3-3.5Mta, with imports from Pakistan and Iran covering the domestic supply deficit. Total cement capacity in the country stands at 4...
Rise in cement consumption prompts expansion plans in Sri Lanka
Cement consumption in Sri Lanka increased by 25.3 per cent YoY in 2016, to 7.99Mt from 6.37Mt. While local cement production also rose by 17.8 per cent to 2.69Mt from 2.28Mt in 2015, imports increased 29.5 per cent to 5.29Mt from 4.09Mt in 2015. This growth in consumption has prompted an expansion plan by Tokyo Cement Company Lanka Plc. In 2017 the company invested over LKR7.3bn (US$47.6m) ...