Australia: Tana Australia has appointed Al Garcia as Country & Sales Director. He will take up the position from 28 July 2025. Garcia brings over 30 years of experience in the heavy equipment industry.

Kenya: Ndovu Cement, owned by Karsan Ramji & Sons, will build a 600t/day greenfield clinker plant and a limestone quarry in Mukawa, Kajiado County, according to regulatory filings. The project has already secured approval from the National Environment Management Authority. The company said the limestone quarry will ensure a reliable supply of 900t/day of limestone.

The facility is expected to reduce reliance on imports following a 17.5% levy on clinker imports introduced in July 2023, according to the Business Daily Africa newspaper. The measure was aimed at boosting local production and creating jobs, but has since led to a drop in cement consumption due to price increases and a fall in imports. Kenya-based cement producers had reportedly opposed an attempt to increase import duty on clinker, instead requesting a grace period of four years, until 2026, to allow them to build their own clinker production facilities.

Karsan began as a quarry operator in Kitengela, Kilifi and Nakuru, before beginning cement production in 2015 and launching Ndovu Cement in June 2015.

Germany: Holcim, E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Orcan Energy have launched a large-scale waste heat recovery project at Holcim’s Dotternhausen cement plant to capture 10MW of unused heat from kiln exhaust gases. The recovered heat will supply internal processes, potential district heating networks and power generation via Orcan Energy’s eP1000 Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system. E.ON is responsible for the planning, construction, financing operation and maintenance of the plant as part of an Energy-as-a-Service model. This is intended to present no initial investment costs for Holcim.

Holcim South Germany plant manager Dieter Schillo said “This project marks an important milestone on our path to decarbonising cement production. The smart use of industrial waste heat not only reduces our Scope 2 emissions, but also strengthens our role as a pioneer in sustainable building materials.”

Mexico/US: Grupo Cementos Chihuahua (GCC) reported that sales in the US were up by 8% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025 (April – June 2025), due to higher ready-mix concrete and cement volumes of 21% and 4% respectively. In Mexico, which represents 25% of consolidated net sales, it recorded a 13% decrease in ready-mix concrete volumes and a 6% decrease in cement volumes, impacted by an industrial slowdown and negative currency exchange effects.

The company recorded a fall in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 12% to US$118m, while sales rose 1% to US$364m. Net income fell by 18% to US$73.5m from US$89.6m in the second quarter of 2024.

Taiwan: The Customs Administration has imposed five-year anti-dumping duties on Portland cement and clinker imported from Vietnam, according to the Taipei Times. Cement imported from Long Son and affiliate Long Son Industrials faces a 14% tariff, Thang Long Cement will be taxed at 19%, while Vissai Ninh Binh, Xuan Thanh Cement and Vicem Ha Tien Cement will be subject to a 15% rate. All other Vietnam-based producers and exporters will be taxed at 23%.

The Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economic Affairs confirmed that companies had dumped cement and ‘caused substantial harm’ to local producers in a statement. The Ministry also found no sufficient evidence that the duties would have a markedly negative effect on Vietnam’s ‘overall economic situation.’

An investigation into dumping of cement from Vietnam began in August 2024 after the Taiwan Cement Industry Association applied for anti-dumping duties, citing suspected dumping and harm to domestic industries.

Malaysia: Cahya Mata Sarawak subsidiary Cahya Mata Cement has awarded a US$159m contract to Sinoma Industry Engineering Malaysia to build a new 6000t/day clinker line at its Mambong integrated plant in Kuching. The company said the project will raise annual clinker capacity from 0.9Mt to 1.9Mt, improving cost efficiency and eliminating future clinker imports. Construction will begin in August 2025, with clinker production starting by April 2027 and full commissioning by June 2027.

Group managing director Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib said “Mambong Clinker Line 2 is a key step in strengthening Sarawak’s cement supply chain, boosting capacity, reducing import reliance and ensuring future demand reliability.”

The new line will include a 6MW waste heat recovery system and an advanced dust filtration system, while incorporating ‘locally-sourced’ alternative raw materials and fuels to reduce emissions. The company said the project will create up to 500 jobs at peak construction.

India: UltraTech Cement recorded consolidated net sales of US$2.4bn in the first quarter of the 2026 financial year, up from US$2.09bn in the corresponding period of 2024. Profit before interest, depreciation and tax rose by 44% year-on-year to US$531m, while profit after tax grew by 49% year-on-year to US$257m.

Sales volumes rose by 10% to 36.8Mt following the acquisitions of The India Cements and the cement business of Kesoram Industries. The producer added 3.5Mt/yr of grey cement capacity and commissioned 12MW of waste heat recovery (WHR) during the quarter, raising total grey cement capacity to 192Mt/yr and WHR capacity to 363MW. Renewable energy now accounts for 39.5% of UltraTech’s energy mix.

Nigeria: Lafarge Africa reported a 70% year-on-year rise in net sales to US$176m in the second quarter of 2025, driven by higher volumes supported by improved plant stability.

Operating profit grew by 153% year-on-year in the second quarter, with first-half growth at 144%, attributed to topline growth and operational efficiencies. Profit after tax rose by 248% year-on-year to US$55m in the quarter and by 352% in the first half of 2025, strengthened by the stability of the Naira, following heavy losses due to the currency depreciating in 2024.

CEO Lolu Alade-Akinyemi said “Following our impressive first-quarter results, second-quarter performance further showcases the strength of our team, market positioning, operational efficiency, cost management and dedication to value creation. We achieved excellent financial results in the second quarter of 2025, with net sales growth of 70%, operating profit up 153%, and profit after tax up by 248% year-on-year. With this strong result, we closed the first half of 2025 with sales and operating profit growth of 75% and 144% respectively; driven by volume growth, operational excellence, innovative product offerings and our proactive market Initiatives.”

Spain: Cement consumption rose by 6.5% year-on-year to 7.8Mt in the first six months of 2025, according to the latest data from Oficemen. In June 2025, consumption grew by 14% year-on-year to 1.44Mt. Rolling year consumption between July 2024 and June 2025 reached 15.4Mt, up by 8%. Cement and clinker exports fell by 0.4% in June 2025 to 0.41Mt. Year-to-date exports declined by 5% to 2.31Mt, and rolling year exports dropped by 2% year-on-year to 4.8Mt.

Oficemen general manager Aniceto Zaragoza said “Average daily consumption in June 2025, which only includes weekdays, was somewhat more moderate, with an 8.5% increase. This ‘calendar effect’ is due to the fact that June 2024 had more holidays, with five full weekends coinciding during the month.”

Zaragoza added “Cement consumption has been the most positive trend of the last five years analysed, a trend we expect to continue in the second half of 2025. This growth is also in line with the data on tenders and construction permits for new construction, which have grown by 26% through May 2025 and 9% through April 2025, respectively.”

Kyrgyzstan: Imports of Portland cement from China in June 2025 rose 378% year-on-year to 4000t, according to China’s General Administration of Customs. The rise follows a May 2025 delivery of 2000t, after 18 months of negligible or no imports.