China: CNBM have reported a good first half of 2019, with profits of US$1.23bn, an increase of 30.6% from US$0.94bn in the same period of 2019.

Australia: Adelaide Brighton’s net profit in the first half of 2019 was US$37.0m, down by 35% from US$57.0m in the half year up to 30 June 2018. Chief executive Nick Miller told The Australian that Adelaide Brighton may consider a merger with Barro Group, which holds a 43% stake in the former.

Egypt: In a statement sent to EGX, Sinai Cement recorded first half net losses of US$11.3m, an increase of 20.1% on the US$4.00m recorded in losses in the same period of 2018.

Niger: Dangote Cement has expressed an interest in establishing a 1.64Mt/yr cement production unit, complete with a grinding plant and gas energy plant, in Niger. Agence Ecofin reports that Dangote, Africa’s leading cement producer, aims to fill the Nigerien cement supply gap amidst an infrastructure boom fuelled by the country’s oil ambitions.

Australia: Boral has suffered a decline in full year net profits of 38% to US$184m. This comes following USG-Boral’s statement regarding substantive changes to its gypsum dealings with Knauf.

Nigeria: Dangote Cement’s net first half profits have increased by 5.4% to US$329m from US$312m in 2018. The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria have reported a corresponding increase of 163% to US$40,000 from US$15,000.

Oman: Bank Nizwa has granted US$50.7m to Raysut Cement, the country’s largest cement producer, as part of its commitment to national economic diversification.

Kenya: The Kenyan government have compulsorily purchased the site of the 0.6Mt/yr Athi River cement plant, which it leased to the East African Portland Cement Company for 945 years in April 1960. The Central Organisation of Trade Unions has complained that the National Social Security Fund, representing workers who held 28% of shares in the plant, was not consulted first. The land will be used for affordable housing, manufacturing and other urban uses.

Romania: The national competition authority stated yesterday that it will investigate LafargeHolcim’s deal with Oresa for the latter’s takeover of the precast concrete producer Somaco. LafargeHolcim assumed the asset in July 2019 at an undisclosed price.

Kenya: Bamburi Cement’s first half profits have declined year-on year by 96% to US$0.22 from US$6.99m. Its Building for Growth strategy has seen the topline hold steady amidst setbacks to demand, including higher operating costs and reduced uptake from the Standard Gauge Railway, one of numerous infrastructure projects impacted negatively by rising tensions between Rwanda and Uganda.