Displaying items by tag: demand

UK: Breedon Group, together with Australia-based First Graphene, Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure and the University of Manchester, is developing a new reduced-CO₂ graphene-enhanced cement. The consortium is currently formulating the cement using varying doses of First Graphene’s PureGRAPH graphene-enhanced grinding aid. The project received a research grant from the UK government earlier in 2022. First Graphene says that the study involves one of the largest commercial trials of its kind to date globally. It is simultaneously collaborating on another similar trial with a Europe-based speciality chemicals producer.

On 29 September 2022, First Graphene launched its latest range of graphene-enhanced cement grinding aids and concrete additives. These join recent launches PureGRAPH AM, an admixture developed in collaboration with South Africa-based Nanoproof/Glade Chemicals, and HexMortar, a dry mortar mix which will be distributed by New Zealand-based GtM Action.

First Graphene says that its cement and concrete segment’s order pipeline totals US$113m in value. Managing director and chief executive officer Michael Bell said “It is pleasing to see our efforts, and those of our collaboration partners, coming to fruition at a commercial scale. One of the primary drivers for the adoption of graphene solutions in this segment is the reduction of CO₂ emissions. We’re seeing considerable benefits both in the immediate reductions that can be achieved through the use of graphene-enhanced grinding aids, as well as the potential reductions in concrete usage because of the enhanced physical properties these products provide.” Bell concluded “Working with industry-focused partners such as Nanoproof/Glade Chemicals, GtM Action, Breedon Cement and Fosroc opens the way to an estimated addressable market of more than 12,000t of PureGRAPH across the medium to long term.”

South Africa: PPC says that the consumption of cement in South Africa will ‘remain subdued’ without new ‘significant’ infrastructure investments. The producer forecast demand growth of 2.5% year-on-year in 2022. It concluded that growth will likely not suffice to offset its cost inflation.

The company said “PPC will continue its efforts to counter input price inflation through price adjustments, operational efficiencies and improved industrial performance.”

Zimbabwe: Part of Lafarge Zimbabwe’s approved US$25m capital expenditure investments will go towards further expanding the company’s cement capacity in order to meet local demand. The company also plans to establish a new dry mortars plant. Lafarge Zimbabwe is on track to commission a new vertical roller mill at its Manresa grinding plant in early 2023. Lafarge Zimbabwe’s chief executive officer Geoffrey Ndugwa said, “The overall market demand continues to grow, driven by the segment of individual home builders as well as the ongoing major government infrastructure development projects. The company is confident that volumes will recover and grow as the availability of cement stabilises.”

Pakistan: Cherat Cement expects cement consumption in Pakistan to fall by 3 – 4% year-on-year in the 2023 financial year, which will end on 30 June 2023. Amid the general decline, the company foresees a slight rise in areas devastated by recent flooding with the onset of repair and rebuilding works during the second half of the financial year. Exports are expected to fall by 20%, with prices remaining level while costs increase due to the high price of imported coal.

Pakistan Business News has reported that Cherat Cement is reappraising the investment cost and planned commercial operation date of its upcoming 8000 – 9000t/day new cement plant. It previously valued the project at US$158 – 173m.

Vietnam: Cement producers and exporters will pay an additional 5 – 10% tariff on their exports of cement and clinker from 1 January 2023. Viet Nam News has reported that the move aims to bring down local cement prices by increasing supply in the country. These have risen over the past six months, while export prices have remained level.

The Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA) says that its members are struggling to increase exports in a highly competitive export market. In the six months up to the end of August 2022, China, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Taiwan all reduced their imports of Vietnamese cement. The decline included a ‘substantial’ reduction of imports by China and the Philippines. Exporters faced logistical difficulties in shipping cement to the Philippines, while China’s consumption dropped due to new Covid-19 restrictions and low residential construction activity there.

The VNCA forecasts cement production of 108Mt in 2022, against a national demand of 65Mt. It projected that a series of infrastructure projects will bolster domestic consumption between 2022 and 2025.

Armenia: The tariff on cement imports has been reduced by 35% to US$22/t, from US$34/t previously, following changes to import rules by the government. Imports of clinker will be subject to no tariffs.

News.am has reported that seven-month cement imports to Armenia rose by 1.7% year-on-year in the period up to 31 August 2022, to 84.7Mt from 83Mt. The cause of the growth is variously the cancellation of an income tax refund on mortgages from 1 July 2022, the increased immigration of Russian citizens into Armenia and the growth of tourism.

Morocco: LafargeHolcim Maroc’s sales were US$377m in the first half of 2022, consistent with its first-half 2021 sales, according to the L’Economiste newspaper. In the second quarter of 2022, the producer’s sales fell by 7% year-on-year to US$181m. It attributed this to a drop in its cement sales volumes, amid a national decline in demand of 10% year-on-year during the quarter. During the first half of 2022, Moroccan cement demand declined by 4.5% year-on-year. LafargeHolcim Maroc said that this was the result of global economic factors.

The producer’s net debt was US$590m on 30 June 2022, up by 5% year-on-year.

Botswana: Cheetah Cement Botswana aims to achieve a cement production capacity of 900,000t/yr by June 2023. Cheetah Cement Botswana currently has a capacity of 36,000t/yr since commissioning its US$40m Francistown cement plant in February 2022. Botswana Investment and Trade Centre CEO Keletsositse Olebile said that the expansion will create 200 new direct jobs.

Xinhua News has reported that the move will turn Botswana, which consumes 620,000t/yr of cement, into a regional cement exporter and reduce its net imports by US$90m/yr.

Poland: Poland produced 9.3Mt of cement in the first half of 2022, up by 8.6% year-on-year from the same period in 2021. The Polish Association of Cement Manufacturers (SPC) recorded an 11% increase in national cement consumption to 6.8Mt during the reporting period. The Institute of Economic Forecasts and Analyses has estimated that full-year demand will reach 20Mt in 2022.

Vietnam: Xuan Tanh Cement plans to commission its upcoming 4.5Mt/yr Ha Nam cement plant in October 2022. Viêt Nam News has reported that the new plant will bring Ha Nam province’s cement capacity to 10Mt/yr.

Vietnam consumed approximately 63.5Mt of cement in 2021.