Displaying items by tag: Asia

Japan: Mitsubishi UBE Cement’s joint project with the city of Kitakyushu to pilot carbon recycled materials in public infrastructure has been selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s 2024 grant programme.

Centred around the producer’s Kyushu plant in Kurosaki, Kitakyushu, the project will recycle CO₂ and waste cement from local sources for use in municipal construction. Mitsubishi UBE Cement said it aims to establish a model for resource circulation that can be expanded nationwide.

India: UltraTech Cement has commissioned its second cement grinding mill at the Maihar unit in Madhya Pradesh, adding 1.8Mt/yr to its domestic production capacity. The first mill at the site began operations in March 2025.

The expansion raises UltraTech’s total grey cement capacity in India to 186.86Mt/yr and 192.26Mt/yr globally. The company said the move forms ‘part of its larger strategy.’

Armenia: The government will extend restrictions on cement and clinker imports from Iran and ‘other countries’ for another six months, from 21 July 2025 to 21 January 2026. The measure aims to support local producers, who reportedly face falling competitiveness and reduced production volumes, according to local press.

Armenian cement output declined by 7% year-on-year to 1.05Mt in 2024, despite a domestic capacity of 2.5Mt/yr and market demand of around 1.4–1.5Mt/yr. Imports from Iran rose by 72% year-on-year to 436,000t in 2024, following a 3.5-fold increase in 2023.

The Ministry of Economy said the restrictions ensure sufficient market supply while maintaining fair competition between domestic manufacturers and importers.

Pakistan: Lebanese investment company Pharaoh Investment Group Ltd (PIGL) is considering the possibility of selling a stake in its subsidiary Attock Cement Pakistan Ltd (ACPL) amid a revaluation of its assets in the cement sector. PIGL, which is the majority shareholder of ACPL with an 84% stake, has received proposals from investors to acquire the entire stake, subject to regulatory approval.

The list of applicants includes joint proposals from the Fauji Foundation and Kotaku Power Company, as well as from Cherat Cement and Shirazi Investments. Separate applications were sent by Alpha Cement and Bestway Cement. ACPL holds a leading position in the cement market in Southern Pakistan, with a 24% market share, thanks to its 4.3Mt/yr capacity.

Taiwan: Taiwan Cement has a secured a US$592m green loan that will support its carbon-cutting and renewable energy projects. Credit Agricole CIB served as the green structuring advisor for the deal, while BNP Paribas, MUFG Bank, DBS Bank (Taiwan) and Taipei Fubon Bank joined as underwriters.

The loan carries an interest premium of only 100 basis points, around half the rate seen on similar Euro-denominated green bonds issued by other large investment-grade corporations. The funds will be used for repaying debt and for recycling and emissions-reducing projects. The company said that it will leverage finance tools to support its green transition and boost competitiveness on the global stage.

China: West China Cement will sell Yili Yaobai Cement, Huocheng County Nangang Xixin Mining Industry and Xinjiang Baihang Environmental Protection Technology to Anhui Conch Cement and Conch (Shaanxi) for US$55m via its subsidiary Yaobai Special Cement Group, according to MT Newswires. It will also divest three additional assets for US$22.5m, US$128m and US$23.7m under separate agreements. The sales remain subject to board approval and other conditions.

Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement reported a net profit of US$1m for the year ending 31 December 2024, down by 78% from US$4.5m in 2023, due to rising input costs, particularly a 42% increase in electricity tariffs and a one-off VAT charge. Sales rose by 4% to US$84.9m, while earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell to US$7.5m from US$12.4m in 2023. The producer retained a 14.5% market share in a growing national cement market, where consumption increased t 11.9Mt, from 11.3Mt in 2023. A completed upgrade to Line 6 raised clinker output to 1.47Mt.

China: NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers (NACC) has placed another order for a HeatPower 300 waste heat recovery system from Climeon on a second cement carrier, to be built at Zhejiang Xinle Shipbuilding Co. and delivered in 2027.

The 38,000t vessel will run exclusively on green methanol and is expected to cut CO₂ emissions by over 60% compared to conventional vessels, reportedly avoiding around 180,000t of CO₂ emissions over 10 years. The HeatPower 300 will generate up to 300kW of carbon-free electricity from engine cooling water and exhaust gases.

Pakistan: The Supreme Court has granted a two-week stay to cement producers, suspending a recent ruling that required higher royalty payments on limestone. Earlier, the Lahore High Court had ordered producers to pay royalties based on 6% of the ex-factory price of cement or clinker. Producers argue that the levy is ‘disproportionate’ and intend to contest the case fully in the next hearing.

Pakistan: Cement exports rose by 22% year-on-year in the first 11 months of the 2024–25 financial year, which started in July 2024, reaching over 8Mt, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Shipments increased by 30% year-on-year from 6.18Mt to 8.0Mt. In May 2025, exports rose by 6% year-on-year to US$34m in value and by 45% month-on-month from April 2025. Overall, national exports grew by 5% while imports rose by 7.5% over the same period.