Displaying items by tag: Asia

India: Local industry and the construction sector generated 340Mt of fly ash in the 2024 – 25 financial year, of which 333Mt was utilised across infrastructure and industrial sectors, according to the Economic Times. The figures showed that 27% of the total fly ash generated was used in the cement industry. Government policy mandates fly ash use in cement and other building materials.

India: Travancore Cements, a state-owned producer under the Kerala government, has restarted production of white cement after a month-long shutdown, unveiling a three-phase restoration plan to stabilise the company, according to The Hindu newspaper. The company has secured 1000t of raw materials to resume operations.

A company official said “About 540t of raw materials have already arrived, which has helped save US$11,411 in deferred costs. The current plan is to increase white cement production gradually, targeting an average output of 2000t/month.”

The first two phases of the plan include increasing clinker unit capacity, developing value-added white cement products and restoring the company’s drydock. The third phase, dependent on receiving US$2.6m from a land sale in Kakkanad, will focus on clay calcination, green cement production and other diversification programmes in association with with the Board of Public Sector Transformation.

China: Anhui Conch’s revenues fell by 9% year-on-year to US$5.77bn in the first half of 2025 from US$6.37bn in the same period in 2025. Its net profit grew by 32% to US$587m from US$445m. Its net sales of cement and clinker remained stable at 127Mt. The group said that despite facing “insufficient demand, intensified competition and volatile market conditions” it managed to improve its efficiency, reduce operation costs and expand its market. Notable cement sector achievements during the reporting period included signing a deal to buy selected assets from West China Cement in China, acquiring Conch West Papua Cement in Indonesia and completing a 5000t/day production line at Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

Thailand: Domestic cement sales are expected to decline by 5.5% year-on-year to 34.7Mt in 2025 due to a contraction in private construction, particularly new housing projects, according to local press. In the first quarter of 2025, sales rose by 9.6% to 8.8Mt. Government projects will continue to expand but at a slower pace than in 2024, which is reportedly insufficient to offset weaker private demand. Political uncertainty may delay the 2026 budget and new project bidding, which could impact demand for government construction projects from late 2025 into 2026.

China/US: A team led by Fengyin Du, then at Southeast University in Nanjing, developed a new cement formulation that reflects sunlight and emits heat more effectively than ordinary Portland cement, according to the New Scientist. The cement incorporates reflective ettringite crystals on its surface, which Du says “works like a mirror and a radiator, so it can reflect sunlight away and send heat out into the sky, so a building can stay cooler without any air conditioning or electricity.”

To make it, the researchers produce tiny pellets from limestone and gypsum, which are ground and mixed with water before being poured into a silicone mould covered in small holes. Ettringite crystals grow in slight depressions on the surface created by air bubbles, while an aluminium-rich gel allows infrared light to pass through, lowering heat retention.

Du said that tests at Purdue University, Indiana showed the cement’s surface was 5.4°C cooler than the air and 26°C cooler than conventional cement under the same conditions. The process is reportedly scalable and costs US$5/t less than ordinary Portland cement, as it can be produced at lower temperatures.

India: Star Cement subsidiary Star Cement North East has been named preferred bidder for the Parewar (SN-IV) limestone block in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The 960-hectare block holds an estimated 271Mt of limestone. The company said the mining lease will strengthen its long-term raw material security once clearances and agreements are completed.

Star Cement operates 7.7Mt/yr of cement grinding capacity and 6.1Mt/yr of clinker capacity.

China: Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that cement production in July 2025 reached 146Mt, down by 6% year-on-year and the lowest July level since 2009, according to Bloomberg. Output from January to July 2025 was 958Mt, representing a 4.5% year-on-year decline. The drop was attributed to the ongoing real estate crisis, weak infrastructure activity, and weather disruptions from heatwaves and storms. Bloomberg said that further declines are likely as producers shrink capacity to better align with demand.

India: UltraTech Cement will offload a 6.49% stake in India Cements through an open market sale, following approval by its committee of directors and officers. The producer acquired control of India Cements in July 2024. The company did not disclose the value of the planned sale.

Sri Lanka: Tokyo Cement has started the 2025-26 financial year on a ‘cautiously optimistic’ footing, projecting steady demand for cement buoyed by improving macroeconomic conditions and sustained private sector investment, according to the Daily Mirror newspaper.

In the quarter ending 30 June 2025, the group posted revenues of US$41.6m, up from US$38.8m in the previous corresponding period. Profit after tax came in at US$2.22m, down from US$2.35m in 2024. Sales growth was reportedly underpinned by higher volumes and momentum from ongoing construction projects, although seasonal slowdowns and monsoon-related disruptions affected demand. Lower interest rates and improved credit access continued to stimulate real estate and commercial construction. However, delays in public infrastructure projects remain a constraint on full recovery.

The company said “While we maintain a conservative short‑ to medium‑term outlook, we are confident in the underlying economic fundamentals and prepared to capitalise on industry growth opportunities,” noting that its 4Mt/yr capacity remains underutilised.

India: UltraTech Cement says that it will surpass a production capacity of 200Mt/yr in the 2026 financial year, one year ahead of its original 2027 target. Chair Kumar Mangalam Birla said the company’s consolidated capacity stood at 188.8Mt/yr in March 2025, after adding 42.6Mt/yr during the 2025 financial year, including 16.3Mt/yr from organic expansion and 26.3Mt/yr from acquisitions, notably India Cements and Kesoram Industries.

The producer operates 34 integrated cement plants, 30 grinding units and 9 bulk terminals across India.