Displaying items by tag: Investigation

New Zealand: The New Zealand Ministry of Finance plans to launch a commission to investigate high building materials prices. The New Zealand Herald newspaper has reported that finance minister Grant Robertson said that New Zealanders pay too much for building materials. Robertson indicated that any probe would look into cement, among other building materials. The Productivity Commission previously estimated that average national building materials prices are 20 – 30% higher in New Zealand than in Australia.

Brazil: Federal police in Pernambuco have launched an investigation into the alleged involvement of organised crime in João Santos Group, the owner of Cimento Nassau. 53 search warrants have been issued in four Brazilian states with the involvement of over 240 police officers, according to the Valor Econômico newspaper. The police are looking into allegations of asset diversions and tax evasion up to a value of around US$1.6bn.

Philippines: Republic Cement has said that it expects the cement sector in the Philippines to grow strongly in 2021 following a 10% decline in demand in 2020. Speaking to local press, the company’s president and chief executive officer Nabil Francis said that the drop in demand in 2020 was actually less severe than the expected 15%. He added, “We strongly believe that we will get back to 2019 level in 2021. That means 12% growth compared to 2020.” Francis added that the industry is expected to sell 35Mt of cement during 2021. The main driver is the bagged cement segment, with infrastructure and the non-residential, likely to grow less rapidly.

Francis additionally said that he welcomed the Department of Trade and Industry’s investigation into alleged dumping of cement into the Philippines from Vietnam. He said that the imported cement is sold at very low prices, its production having been subsidised by the Vietnamese government. He said the influx of imported cement has injured the local industry.

Turkey: The Turkish competition authority Rekabat Kurumu has launched a probe into alleged collusion by nine cement producers. The authority said that it is investigating AS Çimento, Bastas Baskent Çimento, Çimsa, Golas Goller Bolgesi Çimento, Konya Çimento, Kupeliler Endustri, Limak Çimento, Oyak Çimento and Brazil-based Votorantim Cimentos.

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched a probe into the possible imposition of a new anti-dumping duty on imports of cement from Vietnam. The Philippine Star newspaper has reported that Vietnamese cement continues to enter the Philippine market at allegedly dumped prices despite the DTI’s safeguard measures on the product. The DTI is authorised to investigate where prices are believed to be harmful to the domestic industry. Cemex Philippines, Holcim Philippines and Republic Cement have applied for a probe.

China: The China Cement Association has asked that regional associations and producers respect competition laws. It follows the outcome of a State Market Supervision Administration investigation into the behaviour of certain provincial cement associations and six cement companies. The association has called for a thoroughgoing removal of collusive behaviours alongside continued cement overcapacity reduction.

Iceland: Sementsverksmidjan has commissioned engineering company Efla to investigate a dust spill which occurred in early January 2021. The cement importer says that Efla will review its processes, assess impacts and advise on any measures to prevent the recurrence of such an accident.

The company said, “Following the accident, information has also emerged that the incident lasted longer than previously thought. This information has not been confirmed and is new to the company, but could mean that more cement has been released into the atmosphere than had previously been estimated. The cement factory takes this information seriously and will continue to work with Efla and the insurance company to fully analyse the matter.”

Pakistan: A Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) enquiry committee has recommended that the commission take action against the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). The Frontier Star newspaper has reported that the enquiry found evidence that APCMA members had formed collusive arrangements contrary to the prohibited agreements under the Competition Act.

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) recorded a cement price rise in Northern Pakistan in April 2020 and May 2020, and in major cities in northern Pakistan and southern Pakistan in June 2020 and July 2020. This occurred in spite of a reduction in demand in early 2020. As a result, the CCP launched a search and inspection of the APCMA head office and the office of its senior vice chairman, a cement company director, in September 2020.

India: The Ministry of Finance Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) says that its Income Tax department has detected US$95m-worth of tax evasion by Chettinad Cement and Anjani Portland Cement owner Chettinad Group. The Deccan Herald newspaper has reported that following raids on its offices the tax department found evidence of inflated expenditure, unaccounted receipts and complex financial arrangements including bogus liabilities in order to reduce capital gains. The investigation continues.

India: Tax authorities have raided 10 offices of Chettinad Cement and its subsidiaries in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The Times of India newspaper has reported that the officers are investigating allegations of tax evasion.