Uganda: Authorities in Tororo district intercepted a counterfeit cement operation on 7 August 2024, seizing over 4t of cement. The joint operation by police, Uganda Revenue Authority, and the Resident District Commissioner’s office targeted a group involved in producing and selling counterfeit cement, which was packaged in branded bags of Simba Cement, Tororo Cement, and Hima Cement. The bust took place 5km from Tororo along the Tororo-Jinja highway. A truck carrying the counterfeit cement was impounded, and the driver was arrested.

Albert Amula, deputy resident district commissioner, highlighted the dangers of using substandard materials, linking them to building collapses, and called on contractors to only buy from licensed hardware stores. Cement manufacturers have called for stricter regulations to combat this illicit trade.

Burkina Faso: The stone laying ceremony took place on Thursday 8 August 2024 at Ciments de l'Afrique’s (CIMAF) new calcined clay production unit and solar power plant at its plant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The calcined clay unit is valued at US$50m, while the solar power plant cost US$5.5m, reports Burkina 24. Completion is expected by August 2026.

Ibrahim Traore, president of Burkina Faso, said “The accompanying solar unit should make it possible to reduce production costs and we hope that in a few years, this technology will become popular and will make it possible to reduce cement costs.”

Anas Sefrioui, chair and CEO of CIMAF Group, said “The calcined clay that we will produce here in Burkina will serve as an alternative raw material to imported materials, particularly clinker.”

Nigeria: Dangote Cement has exported 14 shipments of clinker from Nigeria to Ghana and Cameroon as part of its strategy to boost foreign exchange inflows, reports Business Post Nigeria. The company reported that high demand for its products has ‘significantly’ increased its pan-African operations.

CEO Arvind Pathak said “This effort resulted in a 55% surge in our Nigerian exports, underscoring our commitment to fostering African self-sufficiency.”

Russia: Belarusian Cement Company (BCC) increased its cement supplies to the Russian Federation by 3.5% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, and by 50% in June 2024, reports Belta News. Major sales markets for BCC in Russia include Moscow, Moscow Oblast, the Central Federal District and the North-Western Federal District.

Vyacheslav Golovatsky, deputy director general for foreign economic activities, credited the growth in foreign cement sales to logistics. He said “We did a lot of work in 2023. We created a commodity distribution network, BCC-Soyuz, which has its own cement transshipment facilities. When there were difficulties with cement delivery in late 2023 – early 2024, logistics came into play. We started routing deliveries, launching our own trains that consisted of our own cars. In March 2024, our first route train went to Russia, in May 2024 we had already 12 BCC route trains, and in June 2024 - 15. Our products have been delivered to transshipment facilities, unloaded and distributed to consumers more promptly.”

India: Kaushalya Logistics (KLL) has launched a new cement depot in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, enhancing its logistics services for Adani Cement. The depot will handle approximately 120,000t/yr of cement, supporting ACC and Ambuja Cement brands.

KLL has also introduced a new vertical in freight forwarding under full truck load services, commencing operations with VMS Equipment, a group company of construction equipment manufacturer ACE.

Managing director Uddhav Poddar said “We are thrilled to start this new association with Adani group with a new depot in Ahmednagar. Our collaboration with Adani Cement showcases our cement logistics capabilities, and our entry into the freight forwarding market marks a pivotal step in our growth strategy.”

Nigeria: An update has been released on the cement plant planned in Bauchi State, on which Global Cement previously reported on 11 June 2024. On 7 August 2024, the Bauchi State government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth US$1.5bn with Resident Cement Company to establish a cement plant in Gwana District, the Nigerian Tribune reports. The plant is expected to produce 10Mt/yr of cement. The project includes a 100MW power plant, a dam and other amenities for the community, which will reportedly help to attract foreign investment and boost the local economy.

US: CRH has announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. Revenue was US$9.7bn, down by 1% year-on-year, net income was US$1.3bn, up by 8% year-on-year, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were US$2.3bn, up by 12%. CRH raised its 2024 financial year guidance, projecting net income increase to US$3.85bn from the previous figure of US$3.7bn and an adjusted EBITDA increase from US$6.82bn to US$7.02bn.

Albert Manifold, chief executive of CRH, said "We are pleased to report another period of further profit growth and margin expansion for CRH. Reflecting the strength of our financial performance, the positive underlying momentum in our business as well as the positive contribution from recent portfolio activity, we are raising our guidance and remain well positioned to deliver another record year in 2024."

Argentina: Loma Negra has announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. Net sales were US$147m, down by 28% year-on-year. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell to US$51m, a 19% decrease from the second quarter of 2023. Net profit reached US$31.6m, up by 226% from US$9.7m in the same period in 2023, reportedly due to the ‘solid’ operational results and an improvement in the net total finance gain.

CEO Sergio Faifman said "We are glad to report another set of solid results. We are optimistic that this positive trend in the industry will consolidate, as July 2024’s dispatch figures already show significant improvement. Therefore, we have strong indications to expect further recovery in the second half of 2024."

UK: Following a successful trial in mid 2024, Aggregate Industries will deploy the ‘first electric cement truck in the UK’, according to the company, with more to follow. The trucks will be based at the Cauldon cement plant, alongside the company’s existing fleet of 60 trucks. The vehicles are equipped with a 600kW motor to deliver both bulk and bagged cement. Aggregate Industries has partnered with Lomas Distribution, its contracted haulier for the UK domestic market.

Gareth Durnall, general manager at Lomas Distribution, said "We are excited to work together with Aggregate Industries in adopting sustainable practices."

Steve Curley, Aggregate Industries’ managing director of cement division, said "Introducing electric trucks in our operations marks a pivotal shift towards efficiency and sustainability and is all part of our ongoing effort to decarbonise the business and contribute to our own net zero Strategy."

Ukraine: Companies belonging to the Ukrcement association increased cement production by 24% year-on-year to 3.8Mt between January and June 2024, according to a press release.

Clinker production also rose by 13% year-on-year to 3Mt.

The statement said "Despite the enormous challenges of the war, the enterprises of the Association of Cement Producers of Ukraine Ukrcement continue to adapt to new realities and produce strategically important products – cement.”