Italy: Cementir Holding recorded cement and clinker sales volumes growth of 0.5% year-on-year in 2024, to 10.7Mt. Revenue fell by 0.4% year-on-year to €1.69bn, while earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 1% year-on-year to €407m. Profit before tax fell by 2% to €285m. The producer targets an increase in revenue to €2bn and EBITDA to €465m by 2027.

Francesco Caltagirone, chair and CEO, said “2024 has been another satisfactory year for our group, which demonstrated remarkable resilience despite the complex geopolitical and macroeconomic backdrop. We are preparing to face the next three years with a strengthened industrial footprint, thanks to: the upgraded Kiln 4 in Belgium, which will enhance efficiency through increased alternative fuels usage; the second production line in Egypt, now fully operational and able to generate additional export revenue; and the opportunity to completely decarbonise our Aalborg plant by 2030 with a limited investment. We look forward to the challenges ahead with renewed confidence.”

France: Hoffmann Green has reported a revenue of €13.2m in 2024, doubling its revenue from 2023. The sale of cements contributed €2.8m, while entry fees from licensing agreements contributed €10.5m. The producer sold 16,269t of cement in 2024, despite the deterioration of the local market. It signed licensing agreements in the US, UK and Ireland, and expects to reach its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) break-even point in 2024.

Co-founders of Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies, Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann, said "Despite a stagnant national construction market, Hoffmann Green has achieved a historic 2024 financial year, doubling its revenue, reaching an estimated EBITDA break-even for the first time since the company was founded, and the signing of numerous partnerships, particularly as part of our international development."

Europe: Titan Cement has invested in AI solutions provider Optimitive, to reinforce the use of AI for the optimisation of its plants. The producer aims to continue to improve its productivity and efficiency through this investment. The investment follows Titan Cement's implementation of Optimitive's Optibat software at its plants in order to improve their operational performance, reduce energy consumption and curb CO₂ emissions.

Fernando de la Prida, CEO of Optimitive, said "For Optimitive, the investment by Titan, one of the main players in the cement market, demonstrates the strength of the company, the cutting-edge technology built inside our product and the high level of satisfaction of our customers."

Mexico: Cemex has announced that its CEO, Fernando Gonzalez, will retire after 35 years with the company. The company’s board of directors has appointed Jaime Muguiro, current head of US operations, to succeed him. The changes will be effective on 1 April 2025.

US: Colombia-based Cementos Argos, Summit Materials’ largest shareholder, has sold its 31% stake in the company to Quikrete Holdings. The price of US$52.50 per share represents a rise by 38% compared to when Cementos Argos acquired the shares in 2023 through the combination of its US assets with Summit Materials. The sale, valued at US$11.5bn for 100% of the company’s shares, will reportedly enable Cementos Argos to pursue new cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates opportunities in the US market. Supply agreements, including exports from Cartagena to the US, will continue. Through the deal, Quikrete will acquire 100% of Summit Materials’ shares, and the company will become a privately held subsidiary of Quikrete.

US: Titan Cement subsidiary Titan America has closed its initial public offering (IPO) of 24 million common shares at US$16 per share. The producer sold 9 million new shares, while Titan Cement sold 15 million existing shares.

Titan America received US$137m in net proceeds, to be used for capital expenditure and investments in technology as well as pursuing acquisitions. Titan Cement received US$228m. Titan Cement retains an 87% stake in Titan America with 160 million shares.

Argentina: Cement despatches rose by 9% year-on-year to 0.84Mt in January 2025, the Association of Portland Cement Manufacturers (AFCP) has reported. This marks the first increase following 21 consecutive months of decline. The country recorded its lowest volume of cement despatches in 15 years in 2024 due to government capital expenditure cuts. In December 2024, despatches fell by 5% year-on-year, following 12 months of declines exceeding 40%.

Myanmar: The government will allow coal imports for cement plants from February 2025 in order to increase production, according to local news reports. Cement plants which need coal can apply for an import licence. The country's 16 private and three state-run cement plants produce less than 8Mt/yr, while national consumption exceeds 10Mt/yr, requiring cement plants to operate at full capacity.

Italy: Buzzi has released its preliminary financial results for the 2024 financial year. It recorded cement sales of 26.3Mt in 2024, in line with 2023’s figures. Consolidated net sales also remained stable at €4.31bn. Recurring earnings by interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) is expected to rise to €1.27bn.

The company reports that growth remained steady in the US and China, while in Europe, the economy continued to weaken, hampered by ‘sluggish’ domestic consumption and demand. It stated that it remains ‘highly exposed’ to risks associated with escalating geopolitical tensions and potential tightening of US trade policies.

In its home country of Italy, economic activity was reported to have remained weak in the fourth quarter of 2024 after stagnating during the summer months, due to the subdued performance of the manufacturing sector and a slowdown in services.

As for the company’s outlook, it stated ‘Despite an improving trend in the latter part of the year, 2024 showed some weakness in demand across most of the countries where we operate, except for Poland and the Czech Republic, although offset by a favourable development of selling prices. The low production levels negatively impacted operating leverage in Central Europe. The exit from Ukraine and the consolidation of Brazil led to a net positive impact on consolidated results. Therefore, based on preliminary available data, we anticipate that operating results will remain broadly in line with the previous year.”

Türkiye: Cement producer Karcimsa Cement said that it will invest US$30m in a 1Mt/yr clinker and granulated slag grinding facility in Kayseri.

The plant will produce ‘green’ cement with low carbon emissions, according to chair of Karcimsa, Soner Ozbey.

Back in March 2024, Türkiye imposed restrictions on cement to expand the use of low-carbon cement in public procurement contracts from 2025.

"The clinker/cement ratio in the cement to be used in public investments will be a maximum of 0.80 as of 2025 and this ratio will decrease to 0.75 by 2030," Karcimsa said.

The company will reportedly procure slag from Kardemir to be used in production.

Karcimsa is a joint venture between Turkish steel firm Kardemir and concrete producer Beycim Beton Sanayi.