India: ACC’s sales rose by 8% year-on-year to US$551m in the first quarter of 2019 from US$509m in the same period in 2018. Its sales volumes of cement grew by 6% to 7.5Mt from 7.1Mt. Ready-mix concrete (RMX) sales volumes grew by 19% to 0.94Mm³ from 0.79Mm³. Its operating earnings before interest, taxation, deprecation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 8% to US$76.1m from US$70.4m.

"Our three-pronged strategy of customised solutions for consumers, focus on premium products and operational improvements are enhancing our bottom-line and powering ACC's strong growth trajectory,” said Neeraj Akhoury, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the subsidiary of LafargeHolcim.

The company noted that fuel and slag prices rose in the quarter although this was compensated by market growth, cost reductions, fuel mix improvements and general production optimisation. It added that plant capacity utilisation improved during the reporting period. ACC also commission eight new RMX plants in the first quarter of 2019, bringing its total to 80.

Mexico: Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua’s (GCC) sales fell in the first quarter of 2019 due to lower cement and concrete volumes in the US. Sales volumes rose in Mexico and the group described a ‘favourable pricing environment’ in both markets. Its net sales dropped by 1.9% year-on-year to US$163m from US$167m. Cement sales volumes fell by 7.3% in the US but they rose by 3.8% in Mexico. Earnings before interest, taxation, deprecation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 16% to US$38.3m from US$45.6m.

“The US operations slowed, with severe inclement weather continuing into the first quarter. However, there is a strong backlog and we are picking up the pace as the weather conditions improve,” said Enrique Escalante, GCC’s chief executive officer (CEO). He added that Chihuahua in Mexico continued to perform well driven by mining shipments, industrial maquiladora plants and warehouse construction and middle-income housing starts.

Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA) has asked for import tariffs on clinker to be reduced. In a letter to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) it requested that the duty be cut to either US$2.40/t or a fixed rate of 5%, according to the Dhaka Tribune newspaper. Importers pay around US$6.00/t at present. The BCMA argues that the cement industry is paying more than other industries for its imports.

The association has also called for value added tax (VAT) on raw materials to be cut to 5% from 15%, reducing advance income tax to 2.5% from 5% and exempting regulatory duties for fly ash and import duties for cement bulk carriers.

Egypt: ASEC Engineering has renewed its technical management contract with Misr Beni Suef Cement until the end of 2023. ASEC originally worked on the first production line at the plant in 2001. It maintenance contract was renewed in 2007 with the addition of a new production line. The cement plant has a production capacity of 3.1Mt/yr.

Algeria: The Algerian cement industry has exported over 0.5Mt of clinker to Europe as part of a shift to international markets. Samir Setiti, the president of Groupe des Ciments d’Algérie’s (GICA) Sodismac subsidiary, said that the company was currently transporting 15,000t of clinker from its Beni Safi plant to the Ivory Coast from the Port of Ghazaouet, according to the L’Expression newspaper. This is part of 15 export operations the cement producer has conducted since May 2018.

Guinea: Mamady Touré, the adminstrative and finance director of Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF) Guinea, says that the company plans to triple the production of its Dubréka grinding plant to 1.5Mt/yr. The announcement was made as part of a lunch for customers, according to Guinée News.

Australia: Wagners expects that its on-going suspension of cement products to Boral will cost it around US$7m in 2019. The company decided to stop the supply following Boral’s notification that it had found a cheaper source in March 2019. Since neither Wagners nor Boral have been able to resolve the disagreement it has now been referred to the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Russia: Eurocement has resumed the packaging line at its Oskolcement plant. It sells products in 50kg bags. The packaging line uses equipment from Germany’s Haver & Boecker and Beumer.

France: Cemex says that it will match the donations made by its employees to help restore the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The donations will be handled by the Fondation du patrimoine (French Heritage Foundation), a private organisation dedicated to saving French cultural and natural heritage. The 800-year old cathedral was devastated by fire on 15 April 2019.

In addition, Cemex will help the reconstruction efforts through its range of technical and specialised products and services, the availability of its research and development centres based in Biel and Paris and assistance with material specifications and mix designs through its laboratory services.

Nigeria: The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria’s (CCNN) profit rose in 2018 following its merger with Kalambaina Cement. Its profit after tax grew by 77% year-on-year to US$15.9m in 2018 from US$8.9m in 2017, according to the Punch newspaper. It produced 0.76Mt of cement in 2018 and it sold 0.74Mt. The company is planning to expand its production distribution in north-east and north-central regions as it does not expect the north-west to absorb its enlarged production capacity of 2Mt/yr.