September 2024
Saudi Arabia: NCB Capital has predicted a growth in Saudi cement sales of 4% year-on-year to 52.8Mt in 2021. The investment and analyst division of National Commercial Bank described the sector’s outlook as ‘positive,’ due to on-going housing programmes and the Public Investment Fund’s 2021 – 2025 strategy, as well as a pick-up in infrastructure projects.
Europe: The European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has reached a price of Euro40/t for the first time in its history. Data from the environmental campaign group Sandbag show that on 9 March 2021 it hit Euro40.58/t. Carbon prices under the scheme started to climb in 2018 after stagnation in much of the 2010s. The fourth phase of the EU ETS started in January 2021.
US: Data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows that cement producers achieved volumes of 87Mt of Portland cement in 2020, a slight increase from 2019 levels. Portland and masonry cement volumes rose by 1% year-on-year to 89Mt from 88Mt, while clinker volumes remained level at 79Mt. Total cement shipments remained level at 103Mt. The value of shipments in 2020 was US$12.7bn. Total exports of cement and clinker were 1.0Mt, down from slightly over 1.0Mt in 2019. The USGS said that on-going upgrades, closed and mothballed plants, low capacity utilisation and relatively inexpensive imports constrained the industry’s growth.
Domestic consumption fell by less than 1% to 102Mt from 103Mt. Cement imports totalled 15.0Mt, up slightly from 14.7Mt, while clinker imports rose to 1.4Mt from 1.2Mt. This corresponded to a 15% rise in reliance on imports of cement and clinker. The main exporters of cement and clinker to the country were Canada, accounting for 33% of US imports, Turkey (16%), Greece (15%) and China (12%).
Refratechnik and Höganäs Borgestad start strategic agreement for supply of refractory products to Nordic countries 10 March 2021
Germany/Sweden: Refratechnik Group and Sweden-based Höganäs Borgestad Group have started a strategic agreement for the supply of refractory products to customers in Nordic countries. Höganäs Borgestad customers will now have direct access to the product range and application knowledge of the Refratechnik Group. The refractory suppliers said that their arrangement, “underscores the desire of both companies for long-term, sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships; resulting in a secure supply of top-quality product for the customer.”
Germany-based Refratechnik Group operates refractory and industrial mineral businesses, with over 1900 employees in 27 locations worldwide. Sweden-based Höganäs Borgestad is the largest refractory company in the Nordic region providing installation services and refractory materials to many industries.
Cemex Dominicana to recommission production line 09 March 2021
Dominican Republic: Cemex Dominicana plans to recommission line 1 at its 2Mt/yr integrated San Pedro de Macorís plant. The move is expected to increase its existing clinker production capacity by more than 0.5Mt/yr. The reactivation is scheduled for the last quarter of 2021. It is part of Cemex Dominicana's growth plan, seeking to strengthen its capacity to response to both local market demand and the export market.
"At Cemex Dominicana, we reiterate our commitment to the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic, in the context of boosting the national economy, aiming with these investment plans to reduce the need for imports, promote local industry, and contribute to the generation of employment in the country," said José Antonio Cabrera, Director of Cemex Dominicana.
JSW Cement buys Salboni power plant from JSW Energy 09 March 2021
India: JSW Cement has signed a contract with JSW Energy to acquire the latter’s 18MW Salboni thermal power plant for US$13.1m. The Press Trust of India newspaper has reported that the companies are conducting the transaction on a slump sale basis. The cement producer plans to optimise labour costs in light of low power demand on the unit. Both companies are subsidiaries of JSW Group.
RHI Magnesita’s sales, earnings and profit declines 09 March 2021
Austria: RHI Magnesita recorded consolidated net sales Euro2.26bn in 2020, down by 23% year-on-year from Euro2.92bn in 2019. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were Euro140m, down by 53% from Euro300m. Pre-tax profit for the year was Euro42.0m, down by 30% from Euro200m.
The group attributed the declines to lower refractory volumes as a result of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on market demand. It said that customers began re-stocking supply chains at the end of 2020 and into the first quarter of 2021, driving increased refractory demand. Its cement and lime business declined by 21% in 2020. The supplier said that the business recorded a ‘strong performance’ in the first quarter, characteristic of seasonal demand, followed by weak second and third quarters when demand was negatively impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Chief executive officer Stefan Borgas said, “2020 has been the most challenging year that our industry has experienced. Throughout the pandemic, RHI Magnesita has protected the health and safety of our employees, ensured business continuity for our customers and taken initiatives to support liquidity and underpin future profitability. Through one of the severest downturns on record, we demonstrated the resilience of our business model and the outstanding commitment of our people while our strong financial position has enabled us to accelerate investment in our strategic priorities.”
Schenck Process launches CONiQ cloud-based data product 09 March 2021
Germany: Schenck Process has launched CONiQ, a cloud-based software product designed to access data from machines. The company said that it builds the foundation for all digital services of Schenck Process, enabling data-driven maintenance and performance optimisation. Users are able to monitor equipment using CONiQ’s integrated knowledge base. The supplier said that the product will open up ‘new functionalities’ for various cement plant equipment. Its first version will focus on vibrating screens and provide dashboards and functions to improve condition monitoring.
Germany: Former HeidelbergCement technical director Rainer Nobis has published a book entitled Illustrated History of Cement and Concrete. The over 300-page volume traces the development of cement and concrete from prehistory to the present day, exploring the question of how cement and concrete came to be so closely intertwined with our prosperity, way of life and mobility. It is both a technical history and a story of the people who contributed to the development and application of cement and concrete. Nobis described the book as of interest both to cement experts and laypeople. More than 700 pictures accompany the text. Its first edition is available in English and German versions.
Nigeria: BUA Cement has announced that it will commission the second production line at its Kalambiana cement plant in Sokoto state in July 2021. The Daily Independent newspaper has reported that the upgrade will bring the plant’s cement production capacity to 3Mt/yr. The group intends for the plant to serve the growing domestic cement demand and to stabilise prices.