
16 March 2023
Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos’ full-year sales were US$4.88bn in 2022, up by 16% year-on-year from 2021. Its earnings before interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 6% to US$927m. Throughout the year, the group invested US$378m in expansions, modernisations and business support. Its cement volumes increased in North America, Spain and Tunisia. Revenues rose by 4% in North America and by 16% in Europe, Asia and Africa, but fell by 17% in Latin America.
Chief operating officer Osvaldo Ayres Filho said “We had another year of solid results, thanks to our discipline in the execution of our strategy and despite a global environment marked by high inflation, rising interest rates and the ongoing consequences of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Locally, household indebtedness and credit tightening affected investments in new construction and renovation projects, which impacted the domestic cement market. Despite that, we increased our investments focused on improving competitiveness, developed and launched new businesses, and expanded our operations in important markets, such as Spain. The company is stronger, more resilient and better prepared for opportunities and challenges.”
Progressive Planet to supply PozGlass to Lafarge Canada 16 March 2023
Canada: Progressive Planet has secured a contract to supply its PozGlass recycled glass-based supplementary cementitious material (SCM) to Lafarge Canada. The cement producer says that it will test the commercial viability of all PozGlass produced at Progressive Planet's Kamloops pilot plant in British Columbia, once the plant commences PozGlass production in 2024.
India: Dalmia Cement has awarded a contract for the supply of fly ash and other industrial waste to Vedanta Aluminium. Under the deal, Vedanta Aluminium will supply fly ash for use at Dalmia Cement’s cement plants across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya and Assam. It will deliver spent pot linings to the producer’s Rajgangpur cement plant in Odisha. The fly ash contract will remain in effect until 2028 and the pot lining contract until 2026.
Vedanta chief executive officer Sunil Gupta said “Strategic collaborations such as this will provide multiple benefits in terms of enhanced quality, sustainability and cost benefits to cement manufacturing, while helping us in gainful waste management. Our waste-to-wealth initiatives are designed to develop thriving value-chains for converting our by-products into resources for complementary industries.”
OJSC to establish cement terminal in Araz 16 March 2023
Azerbaijan: OJSC has bought a site in the Araz Valley Economic Zone Regional Industrial Park in Araz, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Local press has reported that company plans to build a cement terminal at the site. In addition, it will also establish a ready-mix concrete plant there. Its total planned investment in the project is US$2m. When operational, the new complex will employ 20 local people.
Canada: The city administration of Langford in British Columbia plans to enact regulations requiring all public and private projects to use reduced-CO2 concrete. It plans to support the rules with parallel measures affecting the design of buildings.
Victoria News has reported that the city authorities previously mandated reduced-CO2 cement for all projects in June 2022, but subsequently relaxed the regulations after only one company – Butler Concrete and Aggregates – completed the transition. Butler Concrete and Aggregates produces its reduced-CO2 concrete using slag cement supplied by Lafarge Canada.