20 January 2025

Cambodia: The government has waived the 5% tax on domestic cement products from January 2025 to December 2026 to support the local cement industry, as announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The exemption reportedly aims to alleviate financial burden on the industry and promote growth. Local cement companies must comply with obligations including tax filings, maintaining comprehensive records and submitting annual reports detailing production, costs and social initiatives.

To date, Cambodia’s cement industry has attracted over US$1.2bn in investments, creating more than 2700 jobs and ‘significantly’ contributing to the economy, according to Construction & Property news.

India: Kaushalya Logistics has opened new depots for Ambuja Cement, part of the Adani Cement Group, in Kurukshetra and Bhiwani, Haryana.

This marks the first phase of a strategic expansion approved by ACC & Ambuja Cement to establish operations at key locations in Haryana, including Kaithal and Fatehabad. The new depots reportedly aim to improve inventory management, reduce transit times and enhance connectivity across key industrial hubs in the region.

Azerbaijan: Cement production reached 4.03Mt in 2024, up by 1.6% year-on-year, according to the State Statistics Committee. The total value of the construction materials sector rose by 17% to US$823m. Production of bricks and similar products from cement and concrete increased by 41%, while cement clinker output grew by 16%.

Nepal: The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives has received a complaint alleging that cement producers have created artificial shortages in order to raise prices, according to Republica newspaper. A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the complaint.

Saudi Arabia: Northern Region Cement has announced a projected 10% increase in production costs following Saudi Aramco's adjustment of fuel prices.

The company stated that it will explore strategies to mitigate the financial impact, focusing on cost reduction and enhancing production and operational efficiency.