Displaying items by tag: GCW735

Japan: Taiheiyo Cement reported net sales of US$2.84bn for the six months ending 30 September 2025, a 1% decline year-on-year. Operating profit fell by 10% to US$213m, while ordinary profit dropped by 7% to US$213m. For the full financial year ending 31 March 2026, the company forecasts net sales of US$5.87bn and an operating profit of US$453m.

China: The country’s carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions were unchanged year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, continuing the flat-to-declining trend seen since March 2024.

Emissions from the production of cement and other building materials fell by 7% during the quarter, reflecting the prolonged real-estate downturn that has reduced construction activity. In the first nine months of 2025, China added 240GW of solar and 61GW of wind capacity, which could set a new record, according to Carbon Brief.

Saudi Arabia: Al Jouf Cement recorded a net loss of US$17m in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 130% increase from US$7.4m in the same period of 2024. Revenues for the period rose by 6% to US$51.3m, up from US$48.4m a year earlier, according to the company’s financial statements.

In the third quarter of 2025, the company’s net loss widened by 112% year-on-year to US$6.7m, compared to US$3.2m in the third quarter of 2024. Quarterly revenues fell by 6% to US$14.5m from US$15.4m in the same period of 2024. Compared to the second quarter of 2025, net losses increased by 7%, while revenues declined by 21% from US$18.5m to US$14.6m.

Argentina: Cement consumption increased to 968,000t in October 2025, up by 7% compared to 900,000t in October 2024, according to data from AFCP.

Of this total, 967,800t came from domestic production, while 559t were imported. Cumulative consumption for the first 10 months of 2025 reached 8.43Mt, up by 7% from 7.86Mt in the same period of 2024. Compared to September 2025, cement consumption grew by 5.5%.

Vietnam: The country exported 3.5Mt of cement and clinker worth US$128m in October 2025, up by 30% in volume and by 20% in value year-on-year, according to data from the government-run National Statistics Office (NSO).

From January to October 2025, exports were 29.8Mt, valued at US$1.11bn, representing an increase of 20% in volume and 10% in value compared to the same period in 2024.

In 2024, Vietnam exported 29.7Mt of cement with a value of US$1.14bn, down by 5% in volume and by 10% in value from the previous year.

Italy: Cementir Holding’s cement volumes rose by 2% and aggregates by 5%, while ready-mix concrete remained stable at -0.3% in the first nine months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Revenue stood at €1.23bn, down by 0.7% from €1.24bn in the same period of 2024. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined by 3% year-on-year from €296m to €287m, while profit before tax dropped by 17% year-on-year from €210m to €174m. Despite geopolitical challenges and a weak macroeconomic environment, Cementir confirmed all full-year targets.

Francesco Caltagirone Jr, chair and CEO, said “The results for the first nine months of 2025 are in line with our expectations, with the third quarter showing an improvement in cement and aggregates volumes. We are effectively managing operational challenges while continuing to pursue our strategic objectives and growth path with determination. At the same time, we are accelerating our decarbonisation projects, particularly in carbon capture and storage technologies. While awaiting potential market opportunities, we remain committed to further strengthening our financial position.”

Saudi Arabia: Cement sales rose by 7% year-on-year and 8% month-on-month to reach 5.24Mt in October 2025, the highest monthly figure since March 2021, according to a research note from Al Rajhi Capital.

All producers recorded month-on-month volume growth except Yamama Cement, which nevertheless strengthened its market leadership with a 15% share, up from 12% in the 2024 financial year. Saudi Cement followed with a 13% share, compared to 12.5% the previous year. Regionally, the Eastern Province led growth with a 17% year-on-year increase in sales, followed by the Central Region at 16%. The Northern, Western and Southern regions saw declines of 3%, 2% and 0.8%, respectively. Clinker inventories stood at 44.1Mt at the end of October 2025, down by 0.2% month-on-month.

Brazil: Cement sales were 6.3Mt in October 2025, up by 7% year-on-year, according to preliminary data from the National Cement Industry Union (SNIC). Between January and October 2025, cumulative sales reached 56.6Mt, marking a 3.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Shipments per working day averaged 252,300t, up by 5% year-on-year.

The sector’s performance reflected the contradictory macroeconomic scenario, which combined strong employment and infrastructure activity with high interest rates, rising defaults and household indebtedness.

SNIC reaffirmed its 2025 growth projection of 2-3%, supported by the continued strength of the government’s ‘Minha Casa, Minha Vida’ housing programme, which is expected to generate an additional demand of 2.5-3Mt/yr of cement, as well as continued investments in infrastructure.

Paulo Camillo Penna, president of SNIC, said “The Brazilian cement industry has a long history of acting with environmental, social and economic responsibility. Shortly after implementing the sector's mitigation roadmap in 2019, we renewed our commitment to decarbonisation with a proposal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The roadmap covers the entire cement value chain, supported by the development of alternative fuels and raw materials, energy efficiency, carbon capture, storage and use, as well as nature-based solutions. Technology and innovation play a central role, with the active participation of academia, funding agencies and the construction supply chain.”

Serbia: Lafarge Srbija, part of the Holcim group, has officially changed its name to Holcim Srbija to align its corporate identity with the global group. Lafarge Srbija has been part of Holcim since 2015.“The name change completes the company’s corporate profile and represents an even more decisive step towards a future that is more sustainable, responsible and innovative,” said Dimitrije Knjeginjic, CEO of Holcim Srbija.

The company operates a cement plant in Beočin, along with several concrete facilities, and plans to build a new €112m cement plant in Belgrade’s Obrenovac municipality. The company acquired the Jazovnik stone quarry in Vladimirci, around 30km from the planned Obrenovac site, earlier in 2025.

India: Cement and clinker transport from Meghalaya has been at a complete standstill since 27 October 2025, as members of the newly formed Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners Association (MCTOA) continue their protest, according to local press. The strike has impacted despatches from all major cement plants in the Jaintia Hills, leading to a reported cement shortage across Meghalaya and neighbouring northeastern states.

The MCTOA launched the protest to demand that government-notified transport rates be extended to inter-state transportation outside Meghalaya. The protest has reportedly disrupted supply chains and halted plant despatches, with thousands of workers and transporters affected by the shutdown of all cement plants in the region.

In a statement issued on 6 November 2025, the Jaintia Hills Cement Manufacturing Association (JHCMA) described the strike as ‘unjustified and economically damaging,’ adding that it has caused ‘significant losses and hardship’. The association urged authorities to ‘take immediate steps to restore normalcy, ensure the safe movement of goods and safeguard the interests of the industrial sector.’