Displaying items by tag: SNIC

We return to Brazil this week where Cimento Itambé has inaugurated a new kiln at its plant in Balsa Nova, Parana. The US$92m investment has added 0.6Mt/yr of cement production capacity to the unit, bringing its total to 3Mt/yr. Notably, the new kiln is intended to support the use of alternative fuels (AF) such as biomass and industrial waste. Local press reports that the new kiln can operate with a 50% AF thermal substitution rate (TSR) and in tests it has reached as high as 67%.

Local market leader Votorantim Cimentos has also embarked on an upgrade programme linked to increasing co-processing rates. In May 2025 it said that it had received and begun installing a new cement mill, supplied from China, at its Salto de Pirapora plant near São Paulo. Earlier in August 2025 it revealed that it was spending US$60m on upgrades at its Nobres and Cuiabá plants in Mato Grosso. A new cement grinding mill is to be installed at the Nobres plant. This should increase the site’s cement production capacity to 1.2Mt/yr from 0.6Mt/yr. At Cuiabá the company is installing a tyre shredding unit via its Verdura subsidiary to support increased rates of co-processing of AF. Work on these projects is set to start in 2025 with completion scheduled by the end of 2026.

These schemes are part of the group’s larger US$920m upgrade investment plans across the country. Announced in early 2024, this is intended to increase competitiveness and co-processing capacity and reduce CO₂ emissions. It will also add 3Mt/yr to the company’s production capacity. An investment of US$150m from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 2023 to Votorantim to support the uptake of AF is likely to have helped the decision to upgrade. The company currently has a target of a 50% TSR by 2030.

Of the other major producers, CSN is also aiming for a 50% TSR by 2030. It said in its 2024 sustainability report that all of its kilns were capable of processing AF. It also highlighted upgrade work at its Alhandra, Paraíba, plant in 2024 to handle, store and transport fuels, including biomass. InterCement reported some relatively high TSRs at individual plants in Brazil in 2023. For example, its Ijaci plant in Minas Gerais reportedly had a rate of 42%.

National Cement Industry Union (SNIC) data shows that the co-processing rate of AF reached 32% in 2023. The union says that this puts the sector ahead of its next target of 30% in the mid-2020s. The next one is to reach 35% by 2030. For reference, back in 2019 the country’s Cement Technology Roadmap reported that around 60% of cement kilns in the country were licensed by environmental agencies to co-process waste.

Graph 1: Sales of cement in Brazil, 2017 - 2025. Source: SNIC.

Looking at the domestic industry in general, SNIC reported growth in 2024 and the first seven months of 2025. Sales for the first seven months of the year grew by 4% year-on-year to 38.2Mt. This has been attributed to the real estate sector, boosted by the Minha Casa Minha Vida housing programme, and an expanding job market. Yet jitters remain, with fears of an economic slowdown in the second half of 2025 and uncertainty on how new US tariffs might affect the cement industry indirectly. Despite only exporting around 65,000t of cement in 2024 though, the association is wary of any indirect effects of tariffs.

It’s no surprise that cement plants in Brazil are prioritising AF usage. The market is buoyant and co-processing offers one of the cheapest routes to decarbonising cement production in the short-to-medium term. Increasing the use of AF can also potentially hedge against the cost of imported conventional fuels, such as coke, that are priced in US dollars. This is one example of SNIC’s concern over indirect effects on the cement industry from US tariffs via currency volatility. Expect AF rates to carry on rising.

The 18th Global CemFuels Conference & Exhibition on alternative fuels for cement and lime will take place on 17 - 18 September 2025 in Milan, Italy

Brazil: Cement sales rose by 3% year-on-year to 6.1Mt in July 2025, according to the National Cement Industry Union (SNIC). Sales for the first seven months of 2025 totalled 38.2Mt, up by 4%, driven by demand from the real estate sector and a strong job market.

SNIC reported that 3.25Mt of waste were co-processed in the year to date, avoiding 3.4Mt of CO₂ emissions. It said that the cement industry could be ‘indirectly affected’ by US President Trump’s tariffs. The sector also faces challenges from exchange rate fluctuations, which could increase the cost of cement production.

Brazil: Cement sales rose by 3.5% year-on-year to 32Mt in the first half of 2025, according to the National Cement Industry Union (SNIC). Sales in June 2025 fell by 2% year-on-year to 5.4Mt. Daily shipments grew by 0.5% year-on-year to 0.24Mt and were up by 5% compared to the first half of 2024.

The main drivers of cement consumption remain the real estate sector and the labour market, with continued low unemployment and record earnings. Despite improved inventories, SNIC confirmed weaker demand, indicating a slowdown in activity and increased uncertainty. It also highlighted the instability in the global economy, which raises concerns over the cost of cement production, especially petcoke. SNIC maintained its full-year 2025 forecast at 2.1% growth.

Brazil: Cement sales fell by 3% year-on-year in April 2025 to 5.2Mt, according to preliminary data from the National Cement Industry Union (SNIC). However, sales for the first four months of 2025 rose by 4% year-on-year. Sales per business day averaged 237,000t in April 2025, down by 4% from March 2025 but up by 6% from April 2024. In the period of January - April 2025, sales-per-day grew by 6.5% year-on-year.

Confidence in construction fell to its lowest level since March 2022 amid high interest rates, rising defaults and household debt. Construction firms have also reportedly cited concerns over labour shortages and reduced real estate inventories. The sector remains moderately optimistic, supported by housing and infrastructure projects.

It’s been a strong start to 2025 for the Brazilian cement sector. The National Cement Industry Union (SNIC) reported recently that cement sales in the first quarter of 2025 have been the strongest since 2015. Producers sold 15.6Mt in the three month period, a rise of 5.9% year-on-year from 14.7Mt in the same period in 2024.

The result has been attributed to a growing real estate market boosted by housing schemes such as the ongoing Minha Casa Minha Vida programme. SNIC also noted a growing labour market and wage increases, although sales from infrastructure projects failed to keep up. Unfortunately, SNIC is wary of whether the positive news will continue in the second half of 2025. Risks such as interest rates, growing general debt levels and the effects of any potential international trade wars all lie ahead.

Graph 1: Cement production in Brazil, 2017 - 2024. Production estimated for 2024 based on National Cement Industry Union (SNIC) preliminary data on sales. Source: SNIC.

Based on preliminary SNIC data from December 2024, the country likely had its best year in 2024 since the market peaked in the mid-2010s. Cement sales were reported to have risen by 3.9% to 64.7Mt in 2024. Consumption was 73Mt. An estimate of production based on the same rate of growth suggests that cement production may have grown to 69Mt in 2024 from 66.5Mt in 2023.

The three main cement companies - Votorantim Cimentos, InterCement and CSN - each reported domestic earnings growth in 2024. In Votorantim’s case net revenue in Brazil was flat in 2024 at US$1.39bn but its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 4% year-on-year to US$390m supported by higher prices, volumes and lower costs. InterCement has been in a debt resolution process since December 2024, which will be discussed below. Its sales volumes of cement were flat at 8.6Mt and sales revenue fell by 6.6% to US$557m. Yet, adjusted EBITDA rose by 10.2% to US$135m. CSN’s sales volumes of cement increased by 5.9% to 13.5Mt and its cement business sales revenue by 5.7% to US$810m. However, its adjusted EBITDA zoomed ahead by 39.5% to US$231m. The group attributed its higher sales volumes of cement to its strategy of focusing on logistics and distribution centres to target new markets, build market share and boost synergies.

As covered by Global Cement Weekly previously, InterCement has been trying to sell assets since at least the early 2010s. High debt levels have been a problem more recently and the company entered into judicial recovery, a court-led debt recovery process, in December 2024. How this process plays out should inform the nature of any subsequent divestment of assets. InterCement attempted to sell its subsidiary in Argentina, Loma Nega, to CSN in 2024. Unfortunately, this reportedly failed due to the appreciation of Loma Negra and due to disagreements between bondholders and shareholders of parent company Mover, according to the Valor Econômico newspaper. At home in Brazil, Buzzi, CSN, Huaxin Cement, Polimix, Vicat and Votorantim have all been linked to a potential sale of InterCement assets in a piecemeal fashion. Votorantim, in particular, is expected to face opposition from the local competition regulator CADE if it attempted to buy all of InterCement’s cement plants.

It’s positive to see the cement industry in Brazil starting to reach the sales levels last recorded in 2014. SNIC, understandably, isn't taking anything for granted. It’s warned of more modest growth in 2025, compared to the strong opening quarter, with levels forecast to be somewhere between 1 - 1.5%. It says that this will depend on the “evolution of the economy, monetary policy and investments in infrastructure and housing.” It has also warned of “uncertainties arising from the US.” The other big ‘if’ is whether InterCement can actually start selling cement plants in 2025. Time will tell.

Brazil: The Brazilian cement industry recorded sales of 15.6Mt in the first quarter of 2025, up by 6% year-on-year, according to the National Cement Industry Union (SNIC). Sales in March 2025 reached 5.3Mt, up by 5% year-on-year. The result was attributed to the continued growth of the labour market and of the population, in addition to a declining unemployment rate. However, SNIC stated that ‘uncertainties’ stemming from the US are likely to be reflected in global inflation and production costs. It projects growth of 1-1.5% for 2025.

SNIC president Paulo Camillo Penna said “In 2024, the industry recovered the losses of 2022 and 2023, closing the year with 4% growth. Projections for the first half of 2025 remain positive, but economic instability marked by the increase in interest rates, personal debt, high inflation and tax issues should reduce the sector's gains in the second half of 2025.”

Brazil: Cement sales increased to 6.2Mt in August 2024, marking the highest monthly sales since October 2014, when sales reached 6.7Mt. This 10-year peak reflects a 5% month-on-month and 3% year-on-year increase, spurred by dry weather and a robust real estate sector, according to data released by the National Union of the Cement Industry (SNIC).

All regions in Brazil reported sales growth, with the highest sales in the north and northeast and a recovery in the south after the floods in Rio Grande do Sul. Year-to-date sales reached 43Mt, up by 3% from 2023.

However, concerns about prolonged dry spells potentially affecting electricity prices and logistics are emerging, with SNIC stating in a press release "The announcement of the increase in the red flag energy bill in Brazil due to the lack of rainfall is already causing concern for the cement sector, both in terms of production costs and logistics. Brazil is facing the worst drought in history in 2024 and this could have an impact on cement sales, especially in the north."

Brazil: Despite experiencing a 1.2% year-on-year increase in cement sales in the first half of 2024 to 30.6Mt, the Brazilian cement industry is adjusting to mixed economic signals, according to the National Union of the Cement Industry (SNIC). While June sales rose by 2.1% year-on-year to 5.4Mt, overall growth projections have been downgraded from 2.4% to 1.4% for 2024 due to macroeconomic turbulence and extreme weather conditions.

Brazil: The heavy rains and flooding in Rio Grande do Sul state have negatively affected cement sales in May 2024, with volumes dropping by 5.6% year-on-year to 5.3Mt, according to the National Union of the Cement Industry (SNIC). Overall sales for the first five months of 2024 reached 25.2Mt, a slight increase of 0.8%. Despite a 0.8% growth in GDP in the first quarter of 2023, the construction sector saw a 0.5% decline due to high interest rates impacting financing and investments. A positive business outlook is expected for the second half of the year, buoyed by labour market trends and wage increases.

Paulo Camillo Penna, President of SNIC, said "In support of the population affected by the severe floods and rains, cement plants in Rio Grande do Sul are fully operational to assist in reconstruction, with normalised supply of the product, which will be essential for the execution of hundreds of necessary projects throughout the state."

Brazil: Cement sales in April 2024 totalled 5.1Mt, up by 12% year-on-year. Compared to March 2024, sales rose by 4%, as reported by the National Cement Industry Union (SNIC). April 2024 sales have increased following a forecasted rise despite earlier climate-related impacts.

President of SNIC, Paulo Camillo Penna, said "After two consecutive years of falling sales and idle capacity of around 35%, the Brazilian cement industry hopes to reverse this performance, influenced by progress in housing and infrastructure projects. The sector is betting on the growing use of cement and concrete in road and urban paving, as municipalities and states such as Santa Catarina, Paraná, Goiás, Maranhão, Ceará, São Paulo and the Federal District are leading the way in the use of these inputs."