Displaying items by tag: GCW695

Greece: Titan Cement Group says that it has accelerated its innovation strategy with new investments in cement-aligned start-ups. The producer has invested in AI-based industrial process optimiser developer Optimitive, in concrete design systems developer Concrete.ai, in demolition materials-based concrete developer C2CA Technology and in property technology investor Fifth Wall.

Zimbabwe: South Africa-based Robtek is working on a ‘refurbishment’ project at Khayah Cement’s integrated plant in Harare. The project work on the kiln includes replacing 10 planetary coolers, installing 23m of kiln shell sections and refurbishing eight support rollers. Work on the raw mill includes replacing trunnion bearings, overhauling raw mill bearings, upgrading the internal diaphragm and head wall liners and installing a new double-flap valve to replace the star feeder.

Canada: St Marys Cement, Votorantim Cimentos’ North American subsidiary, has ordered SpectraFlow Analytics’ Airslide analyser for its Bowmanville cement plant in Ontario. The analyser will replace the plant’s existing XRF Atline system installed at the back end of the plant’s 450t/hr raw materials mill. It will provide continuous one-minute sampling results, without the need to prepare samples separately. This in turn will facilitate real-time adjustments to the line’s additive weight feeders.

SpectraFlow Analytics says that its equipment will now be installed at plants across 30 countries globally.

US: Holcim’s CEO Miljan Gutovic says he does not expect any effects of proposed US tariffs upon his company. "I don't really see any impact, because our business is a local business (in the US)," said Gutovic in an interview with Reuters. "We are producing locally, we are sourcing the equipment, the spare parts locally, so how is this going to affect us? I do not see it." He added that the proposed tariffs were also unlikely to pose any problems to the group’s planned spin-off of its business in the US. The listing of its North America-based business is remains scheduled for the first half of 2025.

The US government proposed tariffs upon imported goods from Canada and Mexico in early February 2025 but these have been paused for one month. Tariffs on China are set to start on 4 February 2025. US President Donald Trump has also spoken about implementing tariffs on the EU.

Indonesia: A government scheme to build three millions houses per year is expected to boost demand for cement. Special envoy for climate change and energy, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, said that the country had secured financing from Qatar to construct four to six million housing units, according to Antara. An agreement has been secured with the UAE to build one million houses. Hashim also mentioned that countries including China, Türkiye, India and Singapore had expressed interest in investing. The government’s housing budget plan for 2025 is currently valued at around US$310m.

Pakistan: Thatta Cement’s has increased its cement dispatches in the first half of its financial year despite a general reduction in the local market. Its cement despatches grew by 12% year-on-year to 254,000t in the six months to 31 December 2024 from 226,000t in the same period in 2023. The company’s net sales rose by 23% year-on-year to US$13.9m in the six months to 31 December 2024 from US$11.3m in the same period in 2023. It attributed this to a “…substantial increase in the retention price.” Its profit after tax tripled to US$4m from US$1.3m.

The cement producer said that it installed a 5MW solar power plant during the reporting period. It also expects to complete a 4.8MW wind farm in early 2025. The company started operating a new pre-crushing system for its cement grinding mills, supplied by Sinoma-Liyang Heavy Machinery, in mid-January 2025.

India: The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) has praised the Indian government’s Union Budget 2025 – 2026 for its ‘sustained core focus’ on infrastructure, housing and sustainable development. United News of India has reported that the budget provides for interest-free loans for state governments’ infrastructure projects and additional funding for research and development.

The CMA said that this aligns with its own development goals, within which it envisions the cement sector playing a growing role in a ‘sustainable, resilient’ economy.

India: Kaushalya Logistics has started operations at a new depot in Bathnaha, Bihar, as part of its logistics services for ACC. This latest site brings the company's total operational locations to 90. It is its fourth depot under its so-called ‘CCFA model’ for the subsidiary of Adani Cement. Kaushalya Logistics transports cement and handles associated logistics on behalf of companies including Adani Cement and JK Cement. It aims to handle a volume of 3.6Mt/yr of cement as part of its current expansion plans.

Saudi Arabia: City Cement Company has signed an agreement with the National Electricity Transmission Company to build a 106MW transmission station at its Nisah plant. Mist News has reported that electricity transmitted via the station will supplant oil generators at the plant. Construction is scheduled for completion later in 2025.

US: Heidelberg Materials North America has signed a binding agreement with Giant Cement’s multiple minority shareholders to acquire the producer outright. Noticias Financieras News has reported that Heidelberg Materials North America will pay approximately US$600m for the business. Giant Cement is scheduled to fully shut its Thomaston, Maine, cement plant in early 2025.

Giant Cement belongs to Spain-based Cementos Portland Valderrivas, with a 45% stake, Mexico-based Cementos Fortaleza (41%) and Mexico-based Trituradora y Procesadora de Materiales Santa Anita (14%).