Displaying items by tag: Americas

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos has reported that it ended 2024 with global CO₂ emissions of 550kg/t of cementitious material produced, a reduction of 28% compared to 1990, the baseline year used by the cement industry. The level reflects a 1% year-on-year decrease from 556kg/t in 2023. Votorantim Cimentos’ 2030 decarbonisation target, approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), is 475kg/t of cementitious product.

Votorantim Cimentos’ global thermal substitution rate (TSR) was 32% in 2024, an increase over 2023’s TSR of 31%. Its 2030 target is 53%. The company’s clinker factor was 72.5%, a slight fall compared to 73% in 2023. Its 2030 goal is 68%. 34% of the electricity consumed by Votorantim Cimentos in 2024 came from renewable sources, the same as in 2023. The company’s goal is to have 45% of the energy consumed globally come from renewable sources by 2030.

Álvaro Lorenz, Global Director of Sustainability, Institutional Relations, Product Development, Engineering and Energy, said “Globally, we have made progress in pilot projects for CO₂ capture, installed new co-processing and renewable energy sites and systems, and launched low-carbon products. All these efforts will contribute toward our decarbonisation journey and help us achieve our goal of producing carbon-neutral concrete by 2050.”

Brazil: The Brazilian cement industry recorded sales of 15.6Mt in the first quarter of 2025, up by 6% year-on-year, according to the National Cement Industry Union (SNIC). Sales in March 2025 reached 5.3Mt, up by 5% year-on-year. The result was attributed to the continued growth of the labour market and of the population, in addition to a declining unemployment rate. However, SNIC stated that ‘uncertainties’ stemming from the US are likely to be reflected in global inflation and production costs. It projects growth of 1-1.5% for 2025.

SNIC president Paulo Camillo Penna said “In 2024, the industry recovered the losses of 2022 and 2023, closing the year with 4% growth. Projections for the first half of 2025 remain positive, but economic instability marked by the increase in interest rates, personal debt, high inflation and tax issues should reduce the sector's gains in the second half of 2025.”

Türkiye: OYAK Çimento has appointed Turhan Erkayiram as the Plant Director of the Bolu cement plant.

Erkayiram previously worked as the plant manager of the İskenderun plant. Before this he held production manager roles with the company. Earlier in his career he worked for Vicat Group Türkiye, Limak Group and Aşkale Cement. He is a graduate in chemical engineering from Atatürk University.

Argentina: Cement despatches in the first three months of 2025 reached 2.3Mt, up by 11% from the same period in 2024. In March 2025, despatches rose by 17% year-on-year and by 1% month-on-month from 0.63Mt and 0.73Mt respectively. The country exported 7791t of cement in March 2025, bringing the year-to-date total for exports to 24,971t. Argentina imported 61t in March 2025 and 618t so far in 2025.

Trinidad & Tobago: The government will reduce the rate of duty on other hydraulic cement from 10% to 0%, following the fifth price rise by Trinidad Cement since 2021, including the most recent 7% increase in early 2025.

The nation’s cabinet suspended its cement quota and registration system in February 2024. Cement remains on the import negative list, requiring a licence and compliance with Caricom standards. The legal order for the duty cut will be published in the coming days.

US: Heidelberg Materials North America announced that it has completed the acquisition of Giant Cement Holding (GCHI) and its subsidiaries Giant Cement Company, Dragon Products Company and Giant Resource Recovery from the Fortaleza, Uniland and Trituradora groups.

The deal includes a cement plant in Harleyville, South Carolina, four associated distribution terminals, and cement and slag distribution terminals in Newington, New Hampshire and Thomaston, Maine. It also includes Giant Resource Recovery, an alternative fuel recycling business in the eastern US.

President and CEO Chris Ward said “We are pleased to complete the acquisition of the GCHI assets and further strengthen our presence in the important Southeastern US and New England markets. We welcome the approximately 400 employees and the GCHI customers to Heidelberg Materials and look forward to the opportunities ahead.”

El Salvador: Holcim El Salvador has announced the opening of a new distribution centre in San Miguel to strengthen its presence in the eastern region. The centre will provide easier access to Holcim’s Fuerte and Maestro cement from the ECOPlanet range. It also means that customers no longer need to travel to Metapán to purchase cement. The site accommodates dredges and small trucks for fast dispatch, with a minimum order of 40 bags.

Switzerland/US: Holcim has appointed the designated executive leadership team for its planned Amrize spin-off company in the US. Jan Jenisch will be the new company’s chair and CEO and Ian Johnston will be the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Other roles include: Jaime Hill as President of Building Materials; Jake Gosa as President of Building Envelope; Nollaig Forrest as Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer; Steve Clark as Chief People Officer; Denise Singleton as Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary; Sam Poletti, Chief Strategy and M&A Officer; Mario Gross as Chief Supply Chain Officer; and Roald Brouwer as Chief Technology Officer.

Jenisch has been a member of the board of directors of Holcim since 2021 and has worked as its chair since 2023 and as its CEO from 2017 to 2024. Before joining Holcim, Jenisch was the CEO of Sika from 2012 to 2017.
Johnston currently serves as CFO for Holcim North America. Prior to this he held the same role for the business in the US and Canada.

Jenisch said “Our leadership team includes key Holcim leaders who have played instrumental roles in the success of our business, as well as new leaders from top US companies with strong North American market expertise.”

Colombia: Grey cement production in Colombia fell by 5.9% year-on-year to 0.95Mt in January 2025. Domestic shipments also fell by 3.0%, reflecting lower demand in the construction market, according to the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE).

DANE reported that cumulative production between February 2024 and January 2025 reached 13.3Mt, a 5.7% year-on-year decrease compared to the same period a year previously. Domestic shipments dropped by 12.1Mt. Industry experts warn that these results could impact the pace of construction activity in the country in the coming months.

Puerto Rico: 55,500t of bagged cement were sold in Puerto Rico in February 2025, a 12.3% year-on-year increase compared to February 2024. Data from the Economic Development Bank shows that production of cement within the territory rose by 10.4% to 16,200t.

In the first eight months of the 2025 fiscal year, which runs from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, cement sales have increased by 3.8% compared to the same period in the 2024 fiscal year.