Displaying items by tag: exports
Vietnam: SSI Securities says that the local cement sector faces a ‘huge’ risk due to its over-dependence on export markets, particularly its reliance on China. The securities company reports that cement shipments have risen due to China’s current investment policies on limiting the output of its own cement plants and increasing imports from foreign countries, according to the Viet Nam News newspaper. China was the largest buyer of Vietnamese cement from 2017 to 2019. In 2020 China scooped up 57% of Vietnam’s combined cement and clinker exports. This represented 22% of the country’s total sales.
However, SSI Securities has warned that exports to China are unlikely to grow as demand stabilises. It expects a fall of 20 – 25% in the short to medium term as China stops its infrastructure stimulus packages. The brokerage company also noted that the sector’s second biggest export destination, the Philippines, has accused Vietnam of dumping cement.
Belarusian cement exports increase in first half of 2021
11 August 2021Belarus: The Belarus Architecture and Construction Ministry recorded a 25% year-on-year increase in Belarus’ first-half cement exports in 2021. Business World Magazine News has reported that the value of cement exports in the period rose by 38%. The ministry said that challenges included the on-going coronavirus pandemic and restrictions, bad winter weather and anti-dumping measures in neighbouring Ukraine.
The state is working to enhance Belarusian cement producers’ presence across Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) markets. This includes the establishment of a trading house with Kazakhstan to double the export of building materials to that country.
Belarus: Krichevcementnoshifer exported US$2.47m-worth of cement in the first quarter of 2020, up by 41% year-on-year from US$1.75m-worth in the corresponding period of 2019. Belta News has reported that the company, whose 0.6Mt/yr integrated plant at Krichev, Mogilev region serves the eastern Belarusian and Russian markets, made total sales of US$15.4m, up by 22% year-on-year from US$12.6m. Krichevcementnoshifer CEO Vladimir Korchevsky said, “We consistently ship 5000t of cement to consumers every day. April 2020 saw shipments reach 6000t/day. We can conclude that, despite the current difficulties associated with the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for our products has not decreased.”
In April 2020 Krichevcementnoshifer completed construction of an elevated track for the unloading of bulk materials from railway cars, reducing unloading time.
Peru: Total cement volumes in March 2020 were 0.42Mt, down by 51% year-on-year from 0.86Mt in March 2019 and down by 51% month-on-month from 0.85Mt in February 2020. Clinker volumes fell by 51% to 0.35Mt from 0.71Mt in March 2019 – down by 55% month-on-month from 0.78Mt in 2020.
Peru’s March cement exports were 6200t, down by 46% year-on-year from 11,400Mt in March 2019 and 55% month-on-month from 13,700Mt in February 2020. Imports in March 2020 were 102,000t, down by 3.6% year-on-year from 106,000t and up by 2150% month-on-month from 5000Mt.
Domestic demand fell by 47% year-on-year and 48% month-on-month to 0.49Mt, from 0.92Mt and 0.94Mt respectively.
Titan Group strengthens sales as profit drops
20 March 2020Greece: Titan Group’s profit dropped by 5.5% year-on-year to Euro50.9m in 2019, from Euro53.8m in 2018. The group said that it ‘demonstrated strength’ in ‘sustaining a growth performance’ despite challenges in Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. Sales were Euro1.61bn, up by 8.0% from Euro1.49bn in 2018, led by Titan Group’s US subsidiary Titan America’s sales growth of 10.7%, to Euro952m from Euro860m. Titan Group’s Greece and Western Europe sales grew to Euro245m, up by 3.3% from Euro237m in 2018, with sales gains from the private sector offsetting the decreased revenue from delays in public infrastructure projects. Cement exports, especially to the US, were also a major regional sales contributor, while clinker exports fell.
Group volumes of cement, including clinker and cementitious materials, were 17.0Mt, down by 7% from 18.2Mt.
Akkord Cement plans production hike in 2020
13 March 2020Azerbaijan: Akkord Cement has indicated that it plans to produce 1.6Mt of cement and clinker at its Gazakh plant in Dash Salahli in 2020. This would represent a 33% year-on-year increase from 1.2Mt in 2019. In 2019, Akkord Cement exported 500t of clinker from the plant to Georgia. Trend News has reported that the company intends to also export clinker to Iran in 2020.
Vietnam: Producers exported approximately 2.82Mt of cement in January and February 2020, down by 49% year-on-year from 5.75Mt in the corresponding period of 2019. Vietnam News has reported that this is a result of the coronavirus outbreak. In February 2020 Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction said that Vietnamese cement exporters would face fierce competition as China and Thailand increase exports over the coming year.
Vietnam Cement Association president Nguyễn Quang Cung previously predicted that Vietnamese cement exports would hold steady at 34.0Mt in 2020 before falling by 26% to 25.0Mt in 2021 as a forecasted rise in domestic demand reduces the reliance on low-priced exports. China remains the primary importer of Vietnamese cement, which it buys at US$36.3/t. Domestic demand fell by 37% year-on-year to 2.88Mt in January 2020 from 5.43Mt in January 2019, according to Arab News.
Production rose by 0.1% year-on-year to 13.0Mt in January and February 2020 from 12.9Mt one year previously.
Pakistan: Pakistan has recorded year-on-year production growth of 34%, to 4.49Mt in February 2020 from 3.35Mt in February 2019. Consumption grew by 31% to 3.74Mt from 2.84Mt in February 2019. Exports throughout the month were 753,000t, up by 48% from 508,000t. Export growth was bolstered by a weak Pakistani rupee and was stronger in southern Pakistan than in northern Pakistan, with the latter feeling the effects of lowered Afghan demand and zero exports to India.
Dangote shares 2019 results
27 February 2020Nigeria: Dangote Cement’s profit in 2019 was US$685m, down by 17% from US$822m in 2018. Sales were US$2.46bn, down by 1.1% year-on-year from US$2.49bn in 2018. “Export sales were affected by the Nigeria-Benin border closure in the second half of 2019. Looking ahead, I expect an increase in volumes in 2020 as we commence clinker exports via shipping from Nigeria,” said Dangote Cement CEO Joe Makoju. The group reported pan-African volume growth to 9.4Mt/yr, noting a 94% growth in Tanzanian volumes, aided by the commencement of operations at a temporary gas power plant in the East African country.
Retiring from the company, Makoju said, “I am proud to have watched Dangote Cement grow from a local producer back in 2007 to a major force in global cement production. Dangote Cement has eliminated Nigeria's dependence on imported cement.” He wished his successor Michel Puchercos all the best in his new role.
Residential construction rises by 24% year-on-year in Tajikistan
26 February 2020Tajikistan: Builders completed the construction of 1.36Mm2 of multi-storey housing in Tajikistan in 2019, up by 24% from 1.10Mm2 in 2018. Tajikistan Newsline has reported that all residential construction concrete comes from domestically produced cement. Tajikistan produced 4.2Mt of cement in 2019 - up by 11% from 1.8Mt in 2018 - exporting 1.5Mt. It imported 20,000t, primarily of white cement.