September 2024
Thailand: Siam Cement Group’s sales revenue from its cement and building materials division fell by 4% year-on-year to US$2.54bn in the first half of 2016. Profit for the half-year period fell by 11% to US$165m. The cement producer reported that Thailand’s total domestic cement demand decreased by 3% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2016 due to soft demand from non-government sectors.
Overall, Siam Cement Group saw a 2% fall in revenue across all business lines to US$3.11bn and a rise in profit by 18% to US$843m. It attributed the rise in profits to the performance of its chemical business.
“We see a bright future for markets across the region, with steady growth rates. Especially in Vietnam, demand for building materials and packaging has risen, on the back of the boom of construction industry, with several infrastructure, residential and industrial projects, as the country has become a key production base of the world. Cambodia also continues to see steady growth of its industries while Indonesia has also begun to see improvements in the economy, with construction of several government mega-projects. At the same time, trade around the borders of Thailand and neighbouring countries is also doing well,” said Roongrote Rangsiyopash, President and CEO of Siam Cement Group.
Cemex revenue falls slightly in first half of 2016 27 July 2016
Mexico: Cemex’s sales revenue fell slightly year-on-year to US$6.88bn in the first half of 2016. Its net income rose to US$242m from a loss of US$31.6m. Its cement sales volumes rose by 2% to 33.6Mt from 32.9Mt.
“Our solid second quarter and first half 2016 results demonstrate the resilience of our portfolio, which is largely comprised of high-growth markets that are experiencing attractive supply-demand conditions,” said Fernando A Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer of Cemex. The cement producer attributed the increases in sales in the second quarter to high prices overall and increased high sales volumes in Mexico, the US and Europe.
By region, Cemex reported a rise in cement sales volumes in all territories except Mexico. Here, cement volumes started to rise in the second quarter of 2016. The highest half-year increase in cement sales volumes was reported in the US at 7%, driven by residential and infrastructure activity.
US: Dust Control Technology (DCT) has appointed Laura Stiverson as its president. She joined the firm in 2008 and has been the general manager for five years. Stiverson has been cited as instrumental in developing a number of the company’s products, including the OdorBoss family of machines and the Fusion equipment design.
Incorporated in 2004, DCT supplies open-area dust suppression equipment for applications in recycling, demolition, waste and scrap handling, mining, slag and ash management, coal processing, landfills and other industries. Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, the company supplies its dust and odour control products to customers around the world.
India: Ingo Gruber has been appointed the Executive Director, Manufacturing and Technology, of Dalmia Bharat Group’s refractories business. Gruber will be responsible for four manufacturing plants in India, one in China and the India Technology Centre.
Gruber joins Dalmia Bharat after spending 25 years in international refractory markets with experience in manufacturing, technology and process improvement. He also brings knowledge in manufacturing and technology integration strategies during mergers and acquisitions. Previously, Gruber held various leadership roles at RHI and its group companies across Europe.
The Refractory business of Dalmia Bharat Group comprises two specialty companies: OCL Refractories and Dalmia Refractories. Established in 1954 as a unit of OCL India, OCL Refractories is a leading refractory supplier to domestic and international steel plants. Set up in 1959, Dalmia Refractories, previously Shri Nataraj Ceramics and Chemical Industries, specialises in high alumina refractory bricks for the Indian cement industry.
Vietnam: The Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA) has proposed that the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Finance, and Construction reduce import duties on aluminium cement to improve the competiveness of local refractory producers. At present the country charges a tax of 32 – 37% on imports of the input material used to manufacture refractory concrete and refractory bricks. However, imports of refractory bricks are only charged 6%, according to the Viet Nam News newspaper.
The VNCA suggested the government cut duties on aluminium cement imports to support local firms and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign partners, such as China. Vietnam imports refractory concrete and refractory bricks from China, India, South Korea and Germany.
Lafarge Africa to build power plant at Ashaka plant 26 July 2016
Nigeria: Lafarge Africa has signed a US$35m contract with Chinese company Rughn Power to build a 16MW captive power plant at its Ashaka cement plant in Gombe State. The lignite burning plant should provide a reliable energy source for the plant to increase its cement production capacity to 1Mt/yr.
US: Eagle Materials’ sales revenue from cement has risen by 19% year-on-year to US$116m in the first quarter of its 2017 financial year, which ended on 30 June 2016, from US$98m in the same period in 2015. Overall company revenue rose by 1.5% to US$298m from US$285m. Cement sales volumes rose by 4% to 1.25Mt from 1.20Mt.
South Africa: Lafarge South Africa has dismissed around 200 employees from some of the company's sites, including its cement plant in Lichtenburg, following several ‘illegal’ work stoppages in the past few weeks. The workers were issued with letters of dismissal on 8 July 2016 after they ignored two written ultimatums to return to work, according to Lafarge. The workers had ‘illegally’ downed tools, to demand the reinstatement of the National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) National Full Time Shop Steward, who has been suspended for contravening company policy.
"Management regrets having had to issue the notices of dismissal, but we were left with no other choice. We had exhausted all avenues, including giving the employees ample opportunity to return to work, as well as engaging the NUM head office. The workers repeatedly engaged in illegal work stoppages despite continued efforts to reach amicable solutions on outstanding issues," said Veli Gwamanda, Country Director for Human Resources. The official added that the company had also acted to protect non-striking workers from threats, harassment and in some cases physical assaults.
Disciplinary hearings started on 14 July 2016 and are expected to be concluded shortly. The company has implemented contingency plans and operations have not been affected.
Philippines: The National Consumer Affairs Council (NCAC) has warned that around 150,000 bags of cement being sold might be contaminated with seawater. NCAC chairman Jose Paredes Pepito said the contaminated cement entered stores after a ship carrying cement from Vietnam encountered a leak that caused 6000t of cement to get wet, according to the Philippines Star newspaper. The imported cement is part of a 25,000t shipment of Halong brand cement which was unloaded in La Union in March 2016.
“Besides, re-bagged cement should not be sold unless first tested by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Unfortunately, the DTI does not know the location of the 150,000 bags at this point. In the meantime, the public should be very careful when choosing the cement products that they buy in the local market,” said Pepito. He added that the contaminated cement is considered substandard and dangerous if used for construction.
Uzbekistan commissions new cement plant 25 July 2016
Uzbekistan: The Titan Cement plant in the Karauzyak region of Karakalpakstan has been completed and has started operation. The plant has a production capacity of 0.2Mt/yr and 200 new jobs will be created. The commissioning was announced at a socio-economic development meeting for the Republic of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan.