09 January 2023

Vietnam: Vicem recorded full-year sales of US$1.68bn during 2022, up by 17% year-on-year. The producer sold 27.5Mt of cement, down by 6.7% year-on-year. Export sales volumes declined more sharply than those on the domestic market. Vicem responded to the cost impacts of economic disruptions arising from the on-going Russian invasion of Ukraine by raising its cement prices. Nonetheless, its profit fell by 30% year-on-year to US$63.9m.

Vietnam News Summary has reported that Vicem is aiming to achieve sales growth of 4% year-on-year in 2023, to US$1.74bn. Export sales growth prospects are strong, since China resumed its import of foreign goods at the end of December 2022. China consumed 54% of all Vietnamese cement exports in 2021.

Philippines: Holcim Philippines carried out 70 upgrades aimed at increasing automation in its operations during 2022. The projects aim to optimise cement production, generate cost savings and ensure best safety practices. The Manila Times has reported that new Industry 4.0 initiatives include equipment monitoring systems offering 90-day performance projections, software capable of predicting cement's strength development and drones to replace visual inspections in remote spaces.

Holcim Philippines said that it is currently exploring the use of new predictive technologies in its operations.

Australia: Adbri has extended Independent Cement and Lime (ICL)'s contract to exclusively distribute its products to the New South Wales and Victoria markets. ICL is a 50% subsidiary of Adbri. Volumes under the renewed contract will be similar to those during 2022, while prices will reflect market conditions. Adbri said that ICL distributes a 'substantial' proportion of the cement produced at its Birkenhead cement plant in South Australia.

Adbri's interim chief executive officer Mark Irwin said “Independent Cement and Lime is Victoria’s pre-eminent cementitious products distributor and is an important part of Adbri’s supply chain across Victoria and New South Wales. We are pleased to extend our distribution arrangement with ICL through to the end of 2023. We look forward to the commissioning in 2023 of the Melbourne cement facility’s new 45,000t silo at Port Melbourne, which will enhance Independent Cement and Lime’s ability to service the Victorian market.”

Adbri had previously considered buying Barro Group's cement assets, which included the remaining 50% stake in Independent Cement and Lime, in 2018.

Zimbabwe: Companies registered in Zimbabwe are now subject to a new penalty framework under which they will face a US$14,200 fine for failure to publish audited full-year accounts within 90 days of the end of the year. Additional fines will accrue at a rate of US$100/day for the subsequent 30 days or less, whereupon the regulator will take further action. Business Weekly News has reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SecZim) enacted the new rules after Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe failed to fully disclose its acquisition by Fossil Mines in December 2022.

Egypt: LafargeHolcim Egypt supplied 8200t of its ECOPlanet reduced-CO₂ cement for construction of Alamein Downtown Towers in Alamein City. The producer said that the cement reduced the project's carbon footprint by 45% compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The government contracted China-based China State Construction Engineering Corporation for construction of the five-tower development. Three of the buildings will be residential, while the remaining two will house business and events facilities.