Displaying items by tag: Clinker

Brazil: Cia. de Cimento Itambé has inaugurated a new kiln at its Balsa Nova plant in the Curitiba metropolitan region following a US$91.8m investment, according to the Curitiba government. Mayor Eduardo Pimentel and other members of the government were in attendance. The project reportedly increases clinker production capacity by 120% and adds 600,000t/yr of cement capacity, raising the plant’s total to 3Mt/yr.

The kiln will replace up to 50% of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources like biomass and industrial waste.

US: Shipments of Portland and blended cement, including imports, fell by 7.5% year-on-year to 8.91Mt in May 2025, according to the latest figures from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Shipments for January to May 2025 totalled 37.9Mt, down by 6% from the same period in 2024. Texas, Missouri, California, Florida and Michigan accounted for 39% of production, while Texas, California, Florida, Ohio and Illinois received 40% of shipments.

Clinker production was 6.38Mt in May 2025 , compared with 6.46Mt in May 2024. For January to May 2025, clinker output dropped by 10% to 24.5Mt. Imports for the period declined by 5% year-on-year to 9.81Mt.

Iran: Domestic cement demand fell by 8% year-on-year to 4.69Mt in July 2025, according to the Iran Cement Association. Cement output dropped by 11% year-on-year to 4.71Mt, while clinker production rose by 23% year-on-year to 6.31Mt. Cement exports grew by 1.4% during the period to 0.5Mt, but clinker exports declined by 11% to 0.5Mt.

In the first seven months of 2025, cement consumption fell by 7.3% to 34.6Mt from 37.3Mt in 2024. Cement output declined by 3.7% year-on-year to 37.8Mt, while clinker production was stable at 43.0Mt. Cement exports rose by 4.6% year-on-year to 3.37Mt, but clinker exports dropped by 21% to 3.53Mt from 4.45Mt.

The association attributed the fall in demand to a sluggish real estate market and difficult economic conditions. The government’s limits on cement production to address power shortages has also impacted production levels.

India: JK Cement’s board has approved greenfield expansions totalling 7Mt/yr. The projects include a 4Mt/yr clinker line and 3Mt/yr grinding plant at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, and two split grinding units of 2Mt/yr each in Rajasthan and Punjab. The investment is estimated at US$549m.

Peru: National cement despatches rose by 6% year-on-year to 1.1Mt in July 2025 and by 2% over the past 12 months, according to the Asociación de Productores de Cemento (ASOCEM). Cement production grew by 6.5% year-on-year to 0.97Mt, while clinker output fell by 22% year-on-year to 0.69Mt. Cement exports rose by 28% year-on-year to 13,300t, and clinker exports fell by 12% compared to July 2024 to 32,600t. Cement imports dropped by 63% compared to the previous corresponding period to 8000t, while clinker imports grew by 81% to 85,000t.

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement produced a record 93,450t of clinker and 109,682t of cement in July 2025, one month after completing a US$41m plant expansion and efficiency upgrades, according to the Jamaican Gleaner newspaper. The figures surpassed previous records of 89,600t and 103,869t respectively, a combined rise of over 9600t.

Managing director Jorge Martinez said “This is an encouraging achievement for Caribbean Cement and for Jamaica. This increase in clinker and cement production clearly indicates that our investment strategy is working. We are now in a stronger position to meet local demand by reducing our reliance on imports. At the same time, we are better positioned to explore export opportunities.”

Saudi Arabia: Cement sales by the country’s 17 producers rose by 21% year-on-year to 13.1Mt in the second quarter of 2025, according to Al Yamama Cement. Local demand grew by 23% and accounted for 97% of total despatches, while exports fell by 16% to account for 3% of sales.

Al Yamama Cement led the market with 1.93Mt of local sales, followed by Saudi Cement with 1.36Mt, Qassim Cement with 1.14Mt and Yanbu Cement with 1.00Mt. Saudi Cement topped exports with 376,000t sold, ahead of Najran Cement with 50,000t and Eastern Province Cement at 5000t. Cement expert and CEO at consultancy firm A³&Co Amr Nader said “East Africa and Yemen have seen rising local production, such as capacity expansions in Kenya and the reactivation of plants in Ethiopia, alongside aggressive pricing from Turkiye and Iran.”

Clinker production grew by 13% year-on-year to 14.8Mt, with Saudi Cement producing 2.15Mt. Clinker inventories rose by 3% from 2024 to 134Mt by the end of June 2025, led by Southern Province Cement with 20.2Mt. Clinker exports increased by 39% year-on-year to 1.63Mt. Key markets included Bangladesh, Kenya, Benin, Ghana and Yemen.

Kenya: Ndovu Cement, owned by Karsan Ramji & Sons, will build a 600t/day greenfield clinker plant and a limestone quarry in Mukawa, Kajiado County, according to regulatory filings. The project has already secured approval from the National Environment Management Authority. The company said the limestone quarry will ensure a reliable supply of 900t/day of limestone.

The facility is expected to reduce reliance on imports following a 17.5% levy on clinker imports introduced in July 2023, according to the Business Daily Africa newspaper. The measure was aimed at boosting local production and creating jobs, but has since led to a drop in cement consumption due to price increases and a fall in imports. Kenya-based cement producers had reportedly opposed an attempt to increase import duty on clinker, instead requesting a grace period of four years, until 2026, to allow them to build their own clinker production facilities.

Karsan began as a quarry operator in Kitengela, Kilifi and Nakuru, before beginning cement production in 2015 and launching Ndovu Cement in June 2015.

Taiwan: The Customs Administration has imposed five-year anti-dumping duties on Portland cement and clinker imported from Vietnam, according to the Taipei Times. Cement imported from Long Son and affiliate Long Son Industrials faces a 14% tariff, Thang Long Cement will be taxed at 19%, while Vissai Ninh Binh, Xuan Thanh Cement and Vicem Ha Tien Cement will be subject to a 15% rate. All other Vietnam-based producers and exporters will be taxed at 23%.

The Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economic Affairs confirmed that companies had dumped cement and ‘caused substantial harm’ to local producers in a statement. The Ministry also found no sufficient evidence that the duties would have a markedly negative effect on Vietnam’s ‘overall economic situation.’

An investigation into dumping of cement from Vietnam began in August 2024 after the Taiwan Cement Industry Association applied for anti-dumping duties, citing suspected dumping and harm to domestic industries.

Malaysia: Cahya Mata Sarawak subsidiary Cahya Mata Cement has awarded a US$159m contract to Sinoma Industry Engineering Malaysia to build a new 6000t/day clinker line at its Mambong integrated plant in Kuching. The company said the project will raise annual clinker capacity from 0.9Mt to 1.9Mt, improving cost efficiency and eliminating future clinker imports. Construction will begin in August 2025, with clinker production starting by April 2027 and full commissioning by June 2027.

Group managing director Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib said “Mambong Clinker Line 2 is a key step in strengthening Sarawak’s cement supply chain, boosting capacity, reducing import reliance and ensuring future demand reliability.”

The new line will include a 6MW waste heat recovery system and an advanced dust filtration system, while incorporating ‘locally-sourced’ alternative raw materials and fuels to reduce emissions. The company said the project will create up to 500 jobs at peak construction.