Displaying items by tag: Asia

Malaysia: Cementir Group subsidiary Aalborg Portland Malaysia has launched CEM II/A-LL 52.5N with 12% lower CO₂ emissions compared to Aalborg White CEM I 52.5N. The product, part of the D-Carb family, maintains high and consistent early-age performance and is aimed at supporting industrial decarbonisation. It will be distributed primarily in Australia, with further availability across Asia.

Aalborg Portland APAC managing director Fabrizio Piero Carraro said “The demand for low carbon white cement is rapidly increasing across APAC markets, particularly in more mature markets like Australia. This growth is being driven by clear policy direction, defined industrial decarbonisation targets and rising environmental awareness among industry players. As a result, we are seeing a strong shift toward white cement solutions that offer both reduced carbon emissions and high performance.”

Papua New Guinea: The government will support the Mayur Lime and Cement Project (MLCP) and other lime and cement initiatives under the Special Economic Zones policy, aiming to eliminate cement imports, according to local press reports.

Minister for international trade and investment Richard Maru said the Marape-Rosso government wants to replace all imported cement and lower domestic costs.

He said “Cement is essential in building our nation. We have four other limestone projects on the way, in Central, Morobe (Finschhafen) and Chimbu. We want to see all our roads built with cement from the lime resources within PNG. We do not want to see any of our lime by-products like clinker to be sent overseas. All our lime must be used for our nation-building projects in PNG.”

He added “We are currently importing cement from China and we know that our cement factory in Lae is importing cement from other countries. We want this to cease when this project starts. We have enough resources here to supply our own needs and be the net exporter of cement.”

India: Cement production rose by 7% year-on-year to 39.9Mt in April 2025, up from 37.4Mt in April 2024, according to data from eight core companies compiled by Thurro Research.

Despite the annual growth, April output fell 17% from March 2025’s peak of 47.9Mt due to a typical slowdown in construction activity following fiscal year-end completions.

Analysts attributed April 2025’s strong figure to residual fourth-quarter demand and pre-monsoon construction schedules. Output is expected to moderate during the monsoon, with a rebound forecast in the second half of the 2026 financial year.

India: The Karatoya cement plant in Rajganj, West Bengal, will suspend operations for two months following the termination of its commercial agreement with a business partner, according to The Siliguri Times. The closure affects around 80 permanent and temporary workers, who staged a protest outside the plant. The company had reportedly been producing cement under contract for a ‘reputed’ cement brand for several years. The plant initially operated independently before transitioning to contract production.

Tapan Dey, president of workers organisation INTTUC Jalpaiguri district, said that plant management must provide at least two months of financial support to affected workers and that the matter would be raised with the Jalpaiguri Deputy Labour Commissioner.

Kyrgyzstan: President Sadyr Japarov has launched a new 0.8Mt/yr clinker production line at the Kant Cement plant. The project created over 300 new jobs and is expected to increase cement supply to the domestic construction industry. Construction of the dry-process line began in early 2024, with equipment supplied by China's Beijing Triumph International Engineering, a subsidiary of Sinoma. US$50m of the US$61m total investment was provided by the Eurasian Development Bank. In 2024, the plant produced 1.15Mt of cement.

President Japarov said “The launch of the new line is not just another production facility. It is a symbol of our industrial growth, professionalism of domestic engineers and workers, and, most importantly, the trust of investors in our country.”

Philippines: Just 53% of domestic cement production capacity is in use, according to Cement Manufacturers of the Philippines president Reinier Dizon, who raised concerns over the long-term sustainability of local producers amid an increase in ‘cheap’ imports.

Dizon spoke during a Tariff Commission public hearing, of which five days are scheduled until 20 June 2025, examining the imposition of definitive safeguard measures on imported Portland and blended cement.

The Department of Trade and Industry imposed a provisional safeguard in February 2025, following a preliminary finding that the rise in imports caused serious injury to the domestic industry between 2019 and June 2024. Vietnam and Indonesia, which supply 93% and 5% of imports respectively, were not exempted, while China, which supplies 1%, was.

Vietnam: Vietnam exported 2.98Mt of cement and clinker worth US$113m in May 2025, up by 17% in volume and 12% in value year-on-year, according to the government’s National Statistics Office. Between January and May 2025, exports totalled 14.18Mt worth US$523m, marking a 6% rise in volume and 2% in value year-on-year. In 2024, the country exported 29.67Mt of cement and clinker for US$1.14bn, down by 5% in volume and 14% in value from 2023.

Pakistan: Gharibwal Cement has announced the successful installation and commissioning of a new 12.5MW solar power system at its plant in Ismailwal. The new capacity has been integrated with the producer’s existing 12MW solar infrastructure, bringing total installed solar generation capacity to 24.5MW. The company said the additional system commenced commercial operations on 16 June 2025.

Vietnam: The government will allocate greenhouse gas emission quotas to cement and steel plants and thermal power facilities by 31 December 2025, following a new decree issued on 9 June 2025, which takes effect on 1 August 2025. These facilities will receive quotas during the 2025–2026 period. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the ministries of industry and trade and construction, will lead the pilot proposal process and submit total allowable emissions to the prime minister for approval. Quotas for each plant must be finalised by the end of 2025. From 2027, ministries will propose lists of facilities and quotas for 2027–2028 and 2029–2030, with submissions due by 30 June of the first year of each period. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will allocate quotas by 31 October annually once approved.

Quotas will be based on emission intensity per unit of product, industry growth targets and each facility’s potential to reduce emissions. Facilities may trade quotas and carbon credits on the national market. The decree also revises rules on trading, borrowing, transferring and surrendering quotas. Facilities must surrender quotas equal to verified emissions, minus carbon credit offsets, by 31 December following each compliance period. Penalties and future deductions will apply to those who fail.

India: Renaatus Group subsidiary Renaatus Procon will invest US$29m in the first phase of a new fibre cement board plant in Andhra Pradesh. The facility is due for commissioning in 2026, and will have a production capacity of 60,000t/yr. The plant will supply the construction sector in southern India and export markets, supporting the group’s expansion into sustainable building materials.