September 2024
Tanzania: Tanga Cement’s earnings have fallen significantly due to low cement prices. It operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 72% year-on-year to US$2.26m in the first half of 2017. However, its sales revenue grew by 2% to US$35m from US$34.2m.The cement producer cut its prices in response to competition, raising its sales volumes and increasing its market share.
Vicat grows cement sales so far in 2017 07 November 2017
France: Vicat’s cement sales have grown by 4.3%, at constant scope and exchange rates, to Euro932m in the first nine months of 2017. Its cement sales volumes rose by 1.6% year-on-year to 16.9Mt from 16.6Mt. Overall, the construction materials company’s sales increased by 2.9% to Euro1.92bn from Euro1.87bn.
“In the first nine months of the year our sales grew at a healthy pace. This was achieved through further growth in the US, despite tough weather conditions in the South east, and a gradual improvement in the French, Indian and Kazakh markets. After very unfavourable weather conditions in the first half, our business in Turkey posted brisk growth again in the third quarter. Lastly, our sales were almost stable in the West Africa and Middle East region,” said group chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Guy Sidos.
Siam Cement’s sales up so far in 2017 due to regional expansion 07 November 2017
Thailand: Siam Cement Company’s (SCG) sales revenue from its cement business has increased so far in 2017 due to contributions from expanded operations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Its sales rose by 2% year-on-year to US$4bn for the first nine months of 2017. However, its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation fell by 6% to US$526m, mainly due to weaker demand in Thailand.
South Korea: The South Korean Fair Trade Commission has approved the pending merger of China National Building Material (CNBM) and China National Materials (Sinoma). CNBM and Sinoma formerly entered into a merger agreement in September 2017.
Angolan cement plants to buy fuel from Luanda Refinery 07 November 2017
Angola: Manuel Tavares de Almeida, the Minister of Construction and Public Works, says that cement plants will be able to buy heavy fuel oil (HFO) from the Luanda Refinery. The announcement follows fuel shortages in the country that have led to the Fabrica de Cimento do Kwanza Sul and Luanda Cemento plants being shut, according to the Angola Press Agency. The minister said he had received assurances from the refinery that HFO would be supplied to the cement industry.
Edo state looks for new investor for Ava Cement plant 07 November 2017
Nigeria: Godwin Obaseki, the Edo State Governor, say that the state is negotiating with the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to find a new investor for the Ava Cement plant. Obaseki made the statement whilst visiting the Igarra, the headquarters of Akoko Edo Local Government Area, according to the Daily Trust newspaper. AMCON took possession of the plant due to its mounting debts.
Dangote Cement Cameroon claims 45% market share 07 November 2017
Cameroon: The local subsidiary of Dangote Cement in Cameroon (DCC) claims to control 45% of the cement market just two years after opening a grinding plant in Douala. The cement producer aims to producer 1.3Mt of cement in 2017 from its 1.5Mt/yr plant, according to the Journal du Cameroun newspaper. Other producers in the local market include Cinencam, a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim that has a 45% share, and Medcem and CIMAF, which share the remaining market share.
Cemex launches digital customer integration platform 07 November 2017
Mexico: Cemex has launched Cemex Go, a digital customer integration platform. The system will be used in real time to manage order placement, live tracking of shipments and invoices and payments for the company’s main products, including bagged and bulk cement.
“Cemex Go creates an experience for our customers that is superior to anything that has been provided in the past and is the only platform of its kind currently offered in our industry,” said Fernando A Gonzalez, chief executive officer (CEO) of Cemex.
The platform is intended to reduce customers’ administrative burden and to allow them to work at anytime and anywhere on multiple devices. It also plans to use the core activities of Cemex’s open innovation and venture capital unit, Cemex Ventures, to help further build the project. The initiative is being supported by Cemex’s long-term partners, IBM and Neoris.
In November 2017, Cemex Go will start to roll out in the US and Mexico. Further worldwide deployment will follow in 2018.
Invercem to open modular cement plant in April 2018 07 November 2017
Peru: Invercem plans to build a cement grinding plant in Ica for US$20m. The modular plant will have a production capacity of 0.25Mt/yr, according to the Gestión newspaper. Construction is scheduled to start from December 2017 with completion planned for April 2018.
Previously, Invercem has imported cement from HeidelbergCement via the port of Salaverry. It then bagged and sold it locally under the Qhuna brand. As well as building its own plant the cement importer is also considering expansion plans in Ayacucho, Cusco and Iquitos.
Akhangarancement improves in first nine months 06 November 2017
Uzbekistan: Akhangarancement produced 1.44Mt of cement and 1.04Mt of clinker in the first nine months of 2017. This is 1.8% (25,449t) and 2.9% (29,147t) more than in the same period of 2016. The company also increased cement shipments to final customers by 2.6% to 11.46Mt.
"The plant has consistently increased its production since the beginning of the year. Excellent results were achieved thanks to the well-coordinated work of the whole team, the effective operation of technological equipment and quality repairs," said Gennady Kulikov, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Akhangarancement. "Further implementation of measures to improve competitiveness is needed. This includes improving product quality, introducing best solutions and practices, improving labour productivity and minimising costs to reduce product prices."