Displaying items by tag: GCW723

Mexico: Cementos Moctezuma has established what it calls an ‘ambitious’ plan to reduce its embodied CO₂ emissions per tonne of cement to below 500kg by 2030. José María Barroso Ramírez, Cementos Moctezuma's CEO, explained that the company will optimise efficiency at every stage of production, without compromising cement quality. The company’s cement plants will also co-process up to 30% of alternative fuels. Maribel Leyte Jiménez, director of sustainability, environment, and continuous improvement, emphasised that reducing the clinker factor – while maintaining performance – is also key to lower emissions.

Cementos Moctezuma's 2030 roadmap is based on health and safety, energy and climate change, social responsibility and the environment, as well as biodiversity and the circular economy. These pillars are used to evaluate the company's performance each year.

One of the projects being carried out by the company is Reef Balls, in which artificial reefs are used to repopulate coastal areas with flora and fauna. Engineer José María Barroso points out that the implementation of approximately 500 Reef Balls would lead to a reduction of more than 1200t of CO₂. This initiative has been carried out in the state of Yucatán, but plans are underway to replicate the project on more beaches in Mexico.

Congo: The Ministry of Industrial Development and Private Sector Promotion is conducting a special forum on the cement industry in the Republic of Congo in Brazzaville on 18 – 19 August 2025, with the aim being to make the sector more competitive in the global market. Minister Antoine Thomas Nicéphore Fylla Saint Eudes will lead proceedings.

Saint Eudes said “Congo is preparing for its entry into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), scheduled in a few years. Thanks to its significant reserves of limestone and clay, our ambition is to make it a cement hub for the sub-region.”

Belarus: Krasnoselskstroymaterialy is preparing a US$100m modernisation project at one of its cement plants and is seeking investment from Chinese companies. CEO Alexander Golda said “A large cement plant modernisation project is currently at its pre-investment stage. We are actively working with Chinese partners, and representatives of several large companies have already visited us with proposals.” He added that work will continue through 2025 ‘and the following years’ before a final decision is made.

The company reduced its net loss by 45% year-on-year to US$9.50m in 2024, while sales grew by 21% to US$139m.

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.

Egypt: Sinai Cement recorded consolidated net profit attributable to the holding company of US$15.9m in the first half of 2025, up by 18% from US$13.5m in the same period of 2024. Sales rose to US$83.2m from US$55.5m in 2024. Standalone net profit after tax grew to US$15.9m, from US$13.6m in the first half of 2024.

UK: Heidelberg Materials UK and Turners have entered into a 50/50 joint venture for bulk cement haulage, with the haulier distributing the producer’s bulk cement from autumn 2025. Heidelberg Materials UK will transfer its bulk cement distribution business and employees into the JV, which will have a board with representatives from both companies.

Heidelberg Materials UK CEO Simon Willis said “Heidelberg Materials is constantly looking into ways to optimise its operational model and deliver the best value for customers. As a result, we have decided to create a joint venture arrangement with Turners for the distribution of our bulk cement. Our aim is to enhance the distribution of our bulk cement and upgrade our fleet and operations. Partnering with Turners, which we already have a strong working relationship with, will enable us to be more efficient by leveraging its broad logistics experience, systems and network.”

The JV is expected to take effect no sooner than 26 October 2025. Heidelberg Materials UK operates more than 300 sites across aggregates, concrete, asphalt and contracting, cement and recycling, employing over 4000 staff.

Saudi Arabia: Qassim Cement has signed a US$298m contract with Sinoma International Engineering to build a fourth production line at its Buraydah plant. The new line will have a production capacity of 10,000t/day.

CEO and board member of Qassim Cement Omar Al-Omar said that the project will replace ‘outdated’, low-efficiency production equipment while optimising the plant’s existing infrastructure. Al-Omar added that the project will support the company’s sustainable growth strategy, aimed at meeting domestic demand and diversifying products in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Colombia: Cementos Argos reported sales of US$316m in the second quarter of 2025, down by 4.5% year-on-year from US$330m. Net income rose by 93% year-on-year to US$37.6m from US$19.4m.

In the first half of 2025, sales fell by 5% year-on-year to US$618m from US$652m, while net income dropped by 58% to US$560m from US$1.33bn. The producer said the results were achieved through ‘strong pricing discipline’ and sustained efficiency efforts across various geographies, despite cement volumes declining by 4%. It noted mixed regional performance, with volume recovery in Colombia in June 2025 and continued growth in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Demand in Guatemala was unmet due to reduced exports from Honduras, following a longer-than-expected kiln stoppage in the first quarter of 2025, while the Panamanian market continued to underperform.

Ukraine: Cement producers have warned of consequences for the industry due to a 67% rise in the marginal price of electricity, according to Lyudmila Krypka, executive director of Ukrcement. Due to high tariffs, the industry is reportedly only operating at 60-70% of capacity.

Krypka said “Export for us is a matter of survival.”

She said that the increase was unjustified and wartime conditions with limited energy market competition created additional risks. Ukrainian industry receives no compensation for energy costs, unlike in the EU. Ukrcement has proposed preferential electricity transmission tariffs for energy-intensive industries and technical and economic criteria for priority enterprises.

India: JSW Cement plans to triple its production capacity. Managing director Parth Jindal said that the company has a current production capacity of 20Mt/yr and sufficient resources to scale up organically. Internal accruals will fund expansion to 42Mt/yr, with a qualified institutional placement or follow-on offerings considered for further expansion or acquisitions.

Jindal said that the company’s primary route will be organic growth, but that it remains open to acquisitions if strategic opportunities arise. He added that India’s cement industry is expected to grow by 6–7% in the 2026 financial year, driven by increased government infrastructure spending.