
Displaying items by tag: growth
Ghanaian government stops new cement plant projects nationwide
15 September 2023Ghana: The Ghanaian government has ceased to issue permits for new cement plants anywhere in the country. Ghana News Agency has reported that the government enacted the policy in order to ensure the sustainable and responsible growth of Ghana’s cement industry, according to George Dawson-Ahmoah, CEO of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG). Dawson-Ahmoah added that COCMAG is collaborating with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to develop optimal environment, safety and cement quality standards, and to combat unfair trade practices where they arise.
India: JK Cement laid the foundation stone of its upcoming 2.5Mt/yr Prayagraj grinding plant in Uttar Pradesh on 29 August 2023. The plant will cost around US$60m. The company expects to complete the project in the 2025 financial year, which begins on 1 April 2024. This will increase the producer’s grey cement capacity by 11%, to 25Mt/yr. Its ‘medium-term’ capacity goal is a further 20% growth, to 30Mt/yr.
Malayan Cement’s sales rise in 2023 financial year
25 August 2023Malaysia: Malayan Cement recorded consolidated sales of US$808m during the 2023 financial year, up by 39% year-on-year from US$583m in the previous financial year. Its net profit was US$34.2m, up by 90% from US$18m. The company partly attributed its sales growth to its incorporation of YTL Cement, which took place in the 2022 financial year on 21 September 2021. It also increased its cement sales volumes and prices.
Looking to the current, 2024 financial year, Malayan Cement said “Non-residential construction activities are expected to benefit from higher investments in manufacturing facilities, given the shift in global supply chains. Nonetheless, the group's optimism is tempered with caution, as inflation and higher interest rates may have a knock-on effect on cement demand.” It added “Our ability to deliver seamless solutions to customers will be optimised, boding well for the positive growth and outlook of the group and the industry going forward.”
Cementos Argos to expand facilities in the US and Colombia
24 August 2023US/Colombia: Colombia-based Cementos Argos is carrying out expansions to two cement plants in South Carolina and West Virginia. While not specifically named, these would appear to be the 1.1Mt/yr Harleyville and 1.8Mt/yr Martinsburg cement plants. The producer says that the expansions will increase its cement capacity in the eastern US by 450,000t/yr.
Additionally, Cementos Argos plans to expand the capacity of its Cartagena cement terminal in Colombia by 35% to 4Mt/yr. The producer says that this will serve as a platform for subsequent growth. It is targeting the US market, where an expansion is also underway at its import facility in Houston, Texas. The Cartagena terminal achieved its current capacity following a recent US$42m expansion.
Ambuja Cements’ open offer for increased Sanghi Industries stake to commence on 29 September 2023
23 August 2023India: Ambuja Cements’ open offer to acquire an additional 26% stake in Sanghi Industries will run from 29 September 2023 to 13 October 2023. Press Trust of India News has reported the value of shares under the offer as up to US$767m. Ambuja Cements concluded a deal to acquire a 57% stake in Sanghi Industries, for the smaller sum of US$603m, on 3 August 2023.
Uzbekistan: Uzbek six-month cement production was 5.7Mt during the first half of 2023, the Agency for Statistics of Uzbekistan has reported. The figure corresponds to growth of 10% year-on-year.
Monarch Cement raises sales in first half of 2023
14 August 2023US: Monarch Cement’s consolidated sales were US$122m in the first half of 2023, up by 27% year-on-year from US$95.8m during the first half of 2022. The producer’s retained earnings rose by 15% to US$311m from US$271m.
Throughout the first half of 2023, Monarch Cement recorded cement sales of US$71.7m (23% of total sales), up by 29% from US$55.4m (20% of total sales) in the first half of 2022.
UltraTech Cement to achieve cement capacity of 160Mt/yr following latest expansion phase
14 August 2023India: UltraTech Cement says that its cement production capacity will rise by 16% to 160Mt/yr, following the completion of its on-going growth phase.
Accord Fintech has reported that UltraTech Cement raised its capacity by 4.1% from 132Mt/yr throughout the 2023 financial year, which ended in March 2023.
India: Ambuja Cements has concluded a deal to acquire a 57% stake in Sanghi Industries for US$202m. Reuters has reported that the company has offered to subsequently increase its stake in Sanghi Industries to as much as 83% for up to US$295m in total. It will fund the acquisition of any stake through internal accruals. Sanghi Industries operates the 6.1Mt/yr Sanghipuram cement plant, which is equipped with a 130MW captive power plant and a 13MW waste heat recovery (WHR) plant. The cement plant, in Gujarat, also has a single-jetty port on the Arabian Sea coast. Ambuja Cements' parent company Adani Group plans to more than double the Sanghipuram cement plant's capacity to 15Mt/yr.
Adani Group chair Gautam Adani said “By joining hands with Sanghi Industries, Ambuja is poised to expand its market presence, strengthen its product portfolio and reinforce its position as a leader in the construction materials sector. With this acquisition, Adani Group is well on course to achieve its target of 140Mt/yr of cement manufacturing capacity by 2028 ahead of time.”
Yamama Cement increases first-half sales in 2023
03 August 2023Saudi Arabia: Yamama Cement recorded revenues of US$134m during the first half of 2023, up by 17% year-on-year from US$115m during the first half of 2022. The producer's net profit rose by 75% to US$56.2m from US$32.1m.