September 2024
India: Burnpur Cement plans to launch a new product PPC (Pozolona Portland Cement) from its Patratu plant in late April 2017. Following the launch the cement producer hopes to increase its capacity utilisation rate at the plant to 100%. Burnpur Cement operates two integrated cement plants in the east of the country.
Ambuja Cement’s sales suffer from demonetisation in 2016 21 February 2017
India: Ambuja Cement’s standalone net sales fell by 2% year-on-year to US$1.37bn in 2016 from US$1.4bn in 2015. Its sales volumes of cement fell by 2% to 21.1Mt from 21.5Mt. However, its operating earnings before interest taxation, amortisation and depreciation (EBITDA) rose by 10% to US$251m from US$229m. It blamed the loss in sales on the government’s demonetisation policy and bad weather. Despite sales growth in the first half of the year, its sales volumes in the fourth quarter fell by 9% due to cash shortages.
“Our rapid adoption of cashless payment methods in the December 2016 quarter helped Ambuja to deliver a strong performance in 2016. In 2017 we are well placed to be part of the infrastructure development panned by the government and the new thrust on affordable hosing projects,” said Ajay Kapur, chief executive officer of Ambuja Cement.
The cement producer also reported that its operating costs fell in 2016 due to a reduction in energy costs, mainly due to an increased use of petcoke, higher usage of alternative fuels and general efficiency improvements.
Bangladesh: Loesche Shanghai has signed a contract with China National Heavy Machinery Corporation to supply two sets of 35MW thermal power hot gas generator systems to the Bangladesh market. It will also provide installation and technical services. No information on the price of the contract or the end user has been disclosed. Loesche’s Shanghai subsidiary has previously supplied a 32MW automated control hot gas generator system to the Yadong Cement plant.
Maple Leaf Cement sales grow by 11% to US$114m in first half 20 February 2017
Pakistan: Maple Leaf Cement’s sales revenue increased by 11% year-on-year to US$114m in the first half of its financial year to 31 December 2016. Its profit rose by 12% to US$25m, according to the Dawn newspaper. Growth was attributed to cement sales in the local market despite a significant drop in exports to Afghanistan and an increase in the price of coal.
Semapa’s cement sales fall slightly in 2016 20 February 2017
Portugal: Semapa’s sales revenue from its cement business fell by 1.35% year-on-year to Euro471m in 2016. Its earning before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 0.3% to Euro85.1m. It attributed the slight fall in revenue to a fall in turnover in Portugal and Tunisia, although it noted that it rose in Brazil.
Its sales volumes of Ordinary Portland Cement rose by 5% to 4.99Mt from 4.73Mt but its clinker sales fell by 13% to 0.42Mt from 0.48Mt. Despite the poor state of the construction market in Brazil, the cement producer’s local firm, Supremo Cimentos, managed to increase its sales as its Adrianópolis plant increased its production in the year following its opening in mid-2015.
Portland Cement Association welcomes Scott Pruitt as Environment Protection Agency administrator 20 February 2017
US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has welcomed the confirmation of Scott Pruitt as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the US Senate.
“We congratulate Pruitt on his confirmation and look forward to working with him in the years ahead,” said PCA president and chief executive officer (CEO) James G Toscas. “His experience and background are strong indicators that we will see a common-sense approach to regulations that protect public health and the environment. We have always believed that the best regulatory solutions derive from adherence to the intent of the enabling legislation, together with an honest consideration of the perspectives and concerns of all involved, including public stakeholders, the regulating agency and the regulated industry. We believe and expect that Pruitt will restore balance to the regulatory process."
LafargeHolcim Kujawy cement plant in Poland to have chlorine bypass system upgraded by A Tec 17 February 2017
Poland: LafargeHolcim has awarded a contract to A Tec to upgrade the chlorine bypass system at its Kujawy cement plant. A Tec will upgrade its existing Reduchlor bypass system to increase the rate to 10% from 5%. The upgrade will retain the system’s existing bypass filter and filter fan. The project will be commissioned in spring of 2017.
A Tec’s Reduchlor bypass system consists of a take-off chamber above the kiln inlet, specifically designed for each installation, and a specially designed quenching chamber, to which the chlorine condenses on and adheres to fine dust particles. After this condensation process the chlorine-enriched material is collected in a filter.
Gulf Cement receives oil well cement certification 17 February 2017
UAE: Gulf Cement has received certification from the American Petroleum Institute to produce oil well cement. Its sales revenue fell by 8% year-on-year to US$153m in 2016 from US$167m in 2015 and its profit fell by 30% to US$13.6m from US$19.4m, according to Mubasher. The cement producer operates a plant in Ras Al Khaimah.
Rudny cement plant to start operation in 2017 17 February 2017
Kazakhstan: The Rudny cement plant in the Kostanai region is due to be commissioned in 2017. The US$46m unit has a cement production capacity of 0.5Mt/yr, according to a local government official reported upon by Interfax. Construction of the plant has been put on hold repeatedly since 2010 due to lack of financing.
Hanil Cement and LK Investment Partners chosen as preferred bidders for Hyundai Cement 17 February 2017
South Korea: Hanil Cement and LK Investment Partners have been chosen as the preferred bidders for the acquisition of Hyundai Cement. They won out against rival bidders as their offer was higher than expected at US$567m, according to the Maeil Business Newspaper. They were bidding to buy a 85% stake in Hyundai Cement. If the purchase completes then Hanil Cement could increase it market share to 30% from 20% at present.