22 June 2018

Nepal: Shivam Cement has received approval from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) to launch an initial public offering. It will be the first cement producer in the country to become public, according to the Republica newspaper. Shivam Cement operates a 1250t/day plant and it has a captive limestone mine. The company also holds a 30% share in Hongshi-Shivam Cement, a Nepalese-Chinese joint venture that has started trial production at the Hongshi Cement near Dumkibaas in Nawalparasi district.

El Salvador: The Superintendence of Competition (SC) has started investigating the effects of competition in the production and sales of cement upon the local construction industry. The study is being conducted by GPR Economy, an Argentine company, according to the El Mundo newspaper. It will examine any potential monopoly distortions in the local cement, asphalt and heavy machinery industries. The country has two integrated cement plants that are both operated by Holcim El Salvador.

Philippines: Eagle Cement expects to save up to US$9.9m from a three-year income tax holiday for its new cement production line at its Barangay plant in Bulacan. The cement producer says it has been granted the tax exemption from the Board of Investments as it’s the only company expanding its production capacity, according to the Inquirer newspaper. Its competitors have been expanding their distribution capacity instead. Other savings are also anticipated from importing equipment from outside the country.

The company started producing cement on its third production line at its Barangay plant in April 2018. The upgrade added 2Mt/yr to the company’s total production capacity. It expects to reach its full capacity by the third quarter of 2018. The company is also building a new 2Mt/yr cement plant at Cebu is scheduled to be completed in 2020.