Displaying items by tag: market
Indonesia: The Indonesian cement industry produced 29.3Mt of cement during the first half of 2023. This corresponds to a utilisation rate of 51% across an installed national capacity of 116Mt/yr. Throughout 2022, the industry produced 64Mt of cement and recorded a utilisation rate of 55%. Local capacity utilisation levels in the first half of 2023 were as low as 45% in some regions. Only Bali-Nusa Tenggara Region and Maluku-Papua Region did not suffer from overcapacity. National demand was 28Mt in the first half of 2023 and 63Mt throughout 2022. Meanwhile, first-half exports rose by 12% year-on-year in opening six months of 2023.
Indonesia Government News has reported that the Ministry of Industry has instigated a moratorium on investments in the construction of new cement capacity. Director general Ignatius Warsito said "These efforts can provide legal certainty for cement industry players in the country, as well as support competitiveness." Warsito noted the health of Indonesia's existing export markets for cement, but noted the uncertainty of the industry's coal supply and its price. Coal currently accounts for 40% of Indonesian cement's fuel consumption by value.
US: Brimstone has announced a new method of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with a negative carbon footprint. Brimstone's method uses carbon-free calcium silicate in the place of limestone. Its calcination also produces magnesium compounds, which naturally sequester further CO2 from the atmosphere. The technology will now proceed to the testing phase at an upcoming pilot plant in Reno, Nevada, before proceeding to commercial-scale production. Brimstone will then begin to market its OPC, along with supplementary cementitious materials produced by its process.
Brimstone's chief technology officer Hugo Leandri said “By delivering the exact same cement, we clear away the main obstacles to adoption, offering an opportunity to dramatically speed up the path to net-zero construction. The same buildings, bridges and roads being built today can be built tomorrow, without carbon."
Cementos Inka commissions Pisco grinding plant
10 July 2023Peru: Cementos Inka has announced the successful commissioning of its new 800,000t/yr Pisco grinding plant. The new plant is equipped with Christian Pfeiffer grinding and separation equipment. El Comercio News has reported that the producer invested US$55m in the plant. This exceeded previous budgets by 15 - 22%, due to coronavirus-related costs rises. This latest commissioning triples Cementos Inka's installed capacity to 1.2Mt/yr. General manager Carlos Choy estimated that the producer's market share has risen to 10% from 3.9%.
Choy said that the producer's next project will be the construction of a 1 - 1.5Mt/yr kiln line to produce clinker at the site.
Uzbekistan: United Cement Group (UCG) subsidiary Kuvasaycement is building a sixth grinding unit at its Quvasoy cement plant in Fergana. Business World Magazine has reported that China-based Sinoma International Engineering will supply the equipment for the expansion, consisting of a roller press and ball mill, equipped with a separator and pre-grinder.
Kuvasaycement general director Denis Nikitin said "In recent years, we have systematically replaced outdated equipment, renewed our car fleet, installed new filters to reduce cement dust emissions and modernised cement mills in accordance with the highest requirements to which UCG adheres. The cement market in Uzbekistan is rather saturated and, in order to increase production competitiveness, we decided to commission one more cement mill to 'cover' the capacity of the existing five mills. It is also connected with additional demand for products for the construction of bridges, roads and airports. This is state-of-the-art equipment with new grinding capabilities that we have been missing."
Pakistan: Cement producers despatched 44.6Mt of cement during the 2023 financial year, down by 16% year-on-year from 52.9Mt in the previous financial year. Exports dropped by 13% to 4.57Mt from 5.26Mt. The Dawn newspaper has reported that cement plants in Northern Pakistan accounted for 33.9Mt (76%) of despatches, while those in Southern Pakistan accounted for 10.7Mt (24%).
The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association urged the government to support export-orientated industries. It said “Boosting exports will play a pivotal role in the revival of our economy. Signing of standby agreement with IMF is only an interim solution and we must use our own resources in order to build a stronger Pakistan.”
India: ICRA says that all-Indian cement production capacity will rise by 6% year-on-year to 610Mt/yr during the 2024 financial year. The ratings agency forecasts that the Indian cement industry will invest US$14.6bn over the four years up to the end of the 2027 financial year to expand its capacity by 26% to 725Mt/yr. The Financial Express newspaper has reported that costs of cement production fell in the second half of the 2023 financial year, which ended on 31 March 2023. The trend is expected to continue throughout the 2024 financial year. Meanwhile, ICRA has forecast domestic demand growth of 7 - 8% year-on-year in the 2024 financial year.
Philippines: Holcim Philippines and Sungshin Cement have signed a memorandum of understanding whereby Holcim Philippines will be priority supplier of cement for use in Sungshin Cement's ready-mix concrete operations in the Philippines, InPR News has reported. South Korea-based Sungshin is anticipating growing demand from infrastructure projects, partly due to a US$3bn development loan agreement between the government of the Philippines and South Korea.
Philippines: Metal and ores producer Global Ferronickel Holdings (FNI) plans to invest in clinker production operations. The company has indicated that it will also begin producing limestone to supply any clinker plants that it builds. The Manila Bulletin newspaper has reported that FNI's plans also include new ventures into value-added processing, including through the establishment of a ferronickel processing plant and nickel matte processing facility.
India: Birla Corporation says that it expects to sell 18.1Mt of cement during the 2024 financial year (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024), up by 15% year-on-year from 15.7Mt in the 2023 financial year. That financial year, sales grew by 11% year-on-year. Looking ahead, the producer expects its new 3.9Mt/yr Mukutban cement plant in Maharashtra increase its sales. It said that it may also carry out future expansions at its Chanderia cement plant in Rajasthan.
The Hindu BusinessLine newspaper has reported that managing director and CEO Sandip Ghose said "Our strategy is based on prices not going up significantly. Volumes are going to move in a healthy manner unless there are any major dislocations, disruptions or hiccups going forward. I am very bullish on the India growth story." Regarding the company's Gujarat market in Western India, he said "Gujarat had gone through exponential growth in the past year, which boosted certain companies' profitability because of the bullet train, the expressway and other developments." Ghose forecast similar demand growth in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Ethiopia: Derba MIDROC Cement is reportedly ready to sign a contract with China National Building Material (CNBM), for the latter to commence construction of Derba MIDROC Cement's 2.74Mt/yr Mughar Valley cement plant in Oromia. The producer said that it expects to invest US$500m in the project, 30% higher than its previous estimate of US$385m. Addis Fortune has reported that Derba MIDROC Cement now believes there to be adequate energy infrastructure to support the plant, following China-based Sinohydro's construction of a new US$12m power line from nearby Chanco.
When commissioned, the plant will double Derba MIDROC Cement's capacity and create 3000 new jobs in Oromia. The producer also hopes to ease the ongoing national cement shortage. The Ministry of Mines recorded domestic production of 7.6Mt in 2022, against demand of 36Mt.