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Philippine Tariff Commission challenges cement duty rise 28 December 2020
Philippines: The Tariff Commission (TC) has said that it was unaware of a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) order imposing higher-than-scheduled duties on imports of cement. The Manila Bulletin newspaper has reported that TC commissioner Ernesto Albano said that it was legally ‘impossible’ for rates to rise above the previously scheduled US$0.19/bag. The DTI order in December 2020 set a duty of US$0.20/bag in the second year of the three-year tariff scheme. Albano said, "The DTI cannot do that. The schedule has been set.” He added, “The industry should improve so the duty should go down."
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has implemented the new rate imposed by the DTI.
Holcim Romania donates around Euro0.95m to local hospitals 28 December 2020
Romania: Holcim Romania and its subsidiary Somaco have donated around Euro0.95m to local hospitals to help buy equipment to manage the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 20 hospitals in the counties of Alba, Arad, Argeș, Bihor, Buzău, Cluj, Dâmbovița, Iași, Neamț, Prahova, Timiș, Vrancea and Bucharest will benefit from the funds. It will be used to buy protective gear and medical equipment such as medical monitors, ventilators and fans. This latest donation follows one in April 2020 bringing Holcim Romania’s total to around Euro1.5m.
Federbeton calls for unified Italian infrastructure investment plan 25 December 2020
Italy: Federbeton, the Italian cement and concrete association, has called for a coordinated infrastructure investment plan to restart the national economy once the coronavirus crisis recedes. It has noted a halt to production not seen since the 1940s during the current crisis and a general reduction in cement consumption to 17Mt/yr from 47Mt/yr over the last decade, according to the Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA). It is calling on a strategic plan for the sector to make any post-pandemic economic recovery as efficient as possible.
India: France-based Fives says that Ramco Cements has ordered a second FCB TSV 5500 BF type classifier for raw material mixing at a plant in Tamil Nadu. The order follows the commissioning of a similar classifier from Fives at the same site. The upgrade is part of an overhaul of the unit’s grinding equipment. No price for the order or commissioning date has been disclosed.
Spanish cement industry targets 43% emissions drop by 2030 24 December 2020
Spain: The Spanish cement association Oficemen has targeted a 43% emissions drop by 2030 across its entire value chain compared to 1990 levels. The objective has been published as part of the association’s sustainability roadmap to 2050. It is a tightening of the previous target of 27% by 2030. Oficemen intends to meet the tougher reduction by using the so-called 5C approach - clinker, cement, concrete, construction and built environment, and (re)carbonation – as detailed by Cembureau, the European Cement Association. Oficemen also revealed that it is working with the Spanish Technological Platform for CO2 (PTECO2) on identifying potential locations for storing captured CO2. Hugo Morán, Secretary of State for the Environment, participated remotely with the launch event.
Oficemen also reports that Spanish cement consumption fell by 12% year-on-year to 12.2Mt in the first 11 months of 2020. Exports declined by 5%.