Global Cement Newsletter

Issue: GCW489 / 20 January 2021

Headlines


Cement imports were one of the themes in this week’s news, with stories on the topic from South Africa and Ukraine. The former concerned the latest chapter in that industry’s saga on slowing down imports. The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) has started a review on tariffs imposed on cement from Pakistan that were introduced in 2015.

Local producers in South Africa have experienced mixed fortunes since 2015, such as PPC and AfriSam’s failed merger attempt or the introduction of a local carbon tax, and were starting to complain again about imports even before the effects of coronavirus in 2020. This led the Concrete Institute to lobby ITAC in 2019 about rising imports from other nations, principally Vietnam and China.

Back in 2013 cement imports from Pakistan to South Africa were 1.1Mt. This represented the vast majority of all imports to the country. Tariffs of 14 – 77% were imposed on Pakistan-based exporters in mid-2015, initially for six months, but this was then extended. Roughly a year later in mid-to-late 2016, Sephaku Holdings said that imports of cement had ‘significantly’ declined on a year-on-year basis, particularly from Pakistan. By the end of June 2016 approximately 0.16Mt had been imported compared to 0.5Mt in the previous period. However, it noted that 75% of the volume was from China. Since then imports started to creep up. Cement imports reportedly rose by 84% year-on-year in 2018 and then by 11% in 2019. Data from construction industry data company Industry Insight suggests that Vietnam accounted for 70% or 0.47Mt of the 0.68Mt of cement imported into South Africa in the first nine months of 2020. The remaining 30% or 0.20Mt came from Pakistan. In this kind of environment it seems unlikely that ITAC will do anything other than extend tariffs.

Meanwhile in the northern hemisphere, in Ukraine this week a court in Kiev dismissed a challenge by the Belarusian Cement Company to remove cement import tariffs from Russia, Belarus and Moldova that were introduced in mid-2019 for five years. Notably, a law firm representing Dyckerhoff Cement Ukraine, HeidelbergCement Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk Ukraine and CRH subsidiary Podilsky Cement commented favourably upon the court’s decision to uphold tariffs. These producers form UKRCEMENT, the association of cement producers of Ukraine. However, the association doesn’t include Russia-based Eurocement, which operates Ukraine’s largest cement plant at Balakleya. Relations have been poor between Russia and Ukraine since a war between the countries that started in 2014. So any trade tariffs implemented upon Russia and/or Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members will inevitably carry the whiff of geopolitics. Yet, in Ukraine’s defence, it also started an anti-dumping investigation into cement imports from Turkey in September 2020. Nationalism may be relevant but let’s not discount hard-nosed economics just yet.

Turkey’s involvement in Ukraine leads to last week’s presentation at Global Cement Live by Sylvie Doutres, DSG Consultants on cement and clinker trade in and out of the Mediterranean region. Readers can watch the presentation here but the headline story here was the trend of reducing exports away from southern European countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece, to greater exports from North African countries and Turkey over the last decade. Turkey particularly has pushed its share of exports even more in 2020 despite (or perhaps because of) a tough domestic market. The general trend here away from southern Europe has been blamed on European Union-based (EU) producers becoming less competitive often against newer plants in nearby countries.

Battles between producers and government tariff policies are a perennial feature of any market in commodities such as cement. The ebb and flow of import and export markets cover many factors including production costs, distribution networks, tariff structures and more. Distinctive features of cement trading, for example, are the high cost of transporting heavy building materials over land and the world’s chronic cement production overcapacity. In the EU’s case one reason that often gets blamed is the emissions trading system (EU ETS) and the mounting cost it is imposing upon cement production. For example, today’s story that Holcim España wants to convert its integrated Jerez plant into a grinding unit has been blamed on falling exports and a reduction in ETS credits. It is noteworthy then that the EU ETS rate breached the Euro30/t level in December 2020. This may be good news for the sustainability lobby but the exodus of exports away from Southern Europe tells its own story. What form the EU ETS carbon border adjustment mechanism takes as part of the EU Green Deal will be watched closely by producers both inside and outside the EU.

Global Cement Live continues on 21 January 2021 with Kevin Rudd, Independent Cement Consultants, presenting 'Independent or third party factory acceptance testing of major cement plant equipment and critical spare parts and the challenges of Covid’


Indonesia: Subhan has been appointed as the managing director of Semen Gresik. This follows his management of Semen Tonasa, another subsidiary of Semen Indonesia, from 2017 to 2020, according to the Antara news agency. Previously, he was the finance director of Semen Tonasa and head of its accounting department. He originally started working for the cement producer in 1998. Prior to this he worked for Humpus Group. Subhan holds degrees in accounting and management from the Hasanuddin University in Makassar.


Czech Republic: Lafarge Cement has appointed Pavel Zdeněk as its sales director. He is a graduate in economics and trade in construction from the Czech Technical University in Prague. During his professional career, he has worked for companies such as Gfk and Icoma Research, in account management roles, before becoming the director of Soprema for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. His most recent position was a division manager at 3M Czechia, where he was responsible for marketing and sales of industrial tapes and adhesives for the automotive industry.


Germany: Bosch Rexroth has appointed Steffen Haack as its executive board. His tasks include the engineering activities of the company and responsibility for the three business units which constitute the Industrial Hydraulics division. Haack will retain his role as head of the Industrial Hydraulics business unit. He succeeds Heiner Lang as head of Engineering, who left the company at the end of 2020.

Haack, aged 54 years, holds a doctorate degree in fluid technology and he began his career at Bosch in 1996. Since 2017, he has been managing the Industrial Hydraulics business unit, for which he will continue to remain responsible. He was previously a member of the executive board of Bosch Rexroth from 2015 to 2017. In addition to his professional activities, Haack is a member of the executive board of the Fluid Technology Association at the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) and the advisory board of the German Mechanical Engineering Summit.

Other appointments include the decision to place executive board member Marc Wucherer in charge of the Factory Automation division, another unit previously managed by Lang. Wucherer has been responsible for sales and for the three hydraulics business units Industrial Hydraulics, Large Hydraulic Drives, and Large Projects since 2017. Responsibility for these three hydraulics units will be transferred to Haack.

Germany-based Bosch Rexroth is a supplier of drive and control systems for many industries including cement, mining and materials handling.


US: Forney LP has appointed Peter Jones as Platform Sales Manager for its ForneyVault construction materials testing (CMT) software platform.

Prior to joining Forney, Jones was Senior Municipal Software Specialist/Multi-Link Division for Link Computer Corporation in Bellwood, Pennsylvania. He also worked as Commercial Account Manager/Natural Resources for W W Grainger of Pittsburgh. He also spent 12 years with Sysco Food Services in Pittsburgh, last serving as Business Development Manager. He holds a bachelor's degree in management, accounting and finance from Hiram College in Ohio.

Forney LP sells products in the materials testing industry with a focus on material testing equipment for cementitious materials like cement, mortar, grout and concrete for the construction industry, downhole cement and proppant materials for oil and gas industry, and general metals testing. It sells its products to more than 75 countries. Its corporate headquarters is located near Zelienople, Pennsylvania with manufacturing facilities and stocking warehouses in the eastern and western US.


France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has begun construction of its second cement plant, called H2. The company will build the plant next to its existing H1 plant in Bournezeau, Vendée, using its clinker-free cement made from blast furnace slag, clay and gypsum. It will have a capacity of 250,000t/yr and cost Euro22m.

Co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said “This second plant is a key milestone in our development plan in order to increase our production capacity. H2 will enable us to address the growing demand for our clinker-free low-carbon cement, as we have recently signed a number of partnerships with key construction players such as Groupe GCC, KP1, Capremib, Cemex and Eiffage Génie Civil. We would like to congratulate our teams, as this second plant is the result of a multitude of challenges taken up in 2020 in order to increase production capacity. It is the rare combination of an exceptional industrial performance and a minimised environmental impact. This structure demonstrates our industrial excellence and perfectly and genuinely materialises our intent to decarbonise the construction sector.”

Head of new construction Olivier Lefelle said “This second plant represents a major and structuring step. The choice of a vertical model for the mixing tower is an innovative concept in the construction sector and is perfectly in line with Hoffmann Green’s responsible vision. Furthermore, by using Hoffmann cement for its construction, this building site will enable CO2 emissions to be reduced by around 20,000t.”


Spain: LafargeHolcim subsidiary Holcim España has informed the works council and employees of its Jerez de la Frontera cement plant of possible planned changes to the plant’s production structure. The company intends to convert the cement plant into a grinding-only facility. The reasons for the decision were regional overcapacity, falling export volumes and prices and reduced allocations of EU CO2 emissions credits. It says that under the plan the new grinding plant would continue to serve the market in the region. The communication constitutes the beginning of a collective dismissal process.

General director Isidoro Miranda said that the company wants “to work with the social partners to reach an agreement that allows the continuity of our activity in the town of Jerez.”


Spain: Cementos Molins has increased its stake in concrete design specialist Escofet to 76% from 37%. The company says that it hopes to retain the public architecture producer’s management team. It said that it will integrate the subsidiary under its prefabricated concrete division to combine industrial expertise with design excellence.

Chief Executive Officer Julio Rodríguez said that the company’s 2020 – 2022 strategy prioritises “both organic and inorganic growth,” seeking new acquisitions while “maintaining financial discipline and selecting projects where the return on investment is clear."


Germany: Continental has strategically sharpened its conveying solutions and services profile by unifying all products, technologies and services under the Continental brand. The company said that the unification complements an optimisation and extension of the portfolio in both belts and digital products. In 2021 it will launch drone-based monitoring services for conveyor systems.

Conveying solutions services head Andreas Bakenhus said “We see fast-changing requirements in our markets. A few years ago, our customers asked for high-quality, long-life belts. Now, construction, industry and mining companies are looking for safety, quality, efficiency and productivity gains. Our customers are requiring integrated solutions covering the entire value chain around a belt from commissioning, consulting and training to digital monitoring and on-site maintenance. Additionally, energy-optimised belts, new business models and sustainability aspects will play a crucial and competitive role in the future.” He concluded “Basically, we understand it as our job to offer service levels that allows our customers to fully concentrate on their core business.”

Conveying solutions head Hannes Friederichsen said “Decisive drivers are our customers. In this way, our customers and partners will benefit from a stronger and trusted global product portfolio from a single source. Thus, we will further be joining forces to continue our customer-centric business approach.”


Philippines: Cemex Philippines Solid Cement plant in Antipolo has lifted a new rotary kiln into position as part of a US$235m installation of a new production line at the site. Once complete the new line will add 1.5Mt/yr to the unit’s production capacity increasing the total to 3.4Mt/yr. The new production line will reuse waste hot gases to dry raw materials and high efficiency bag filters reduce improve emissions control. Cemex is also using its proprietary Low Temperature Clinker technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

"This milestone demonstrates our full commitment to the development of the country and brings us closer to further strengthening our position in providing the infrastructure and building needs for economic development," said Ignacio Mijares, the chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Cemex Holdings Philippines.

China-based CBMI Construction has been contracted to build the new line. It lifted the new kiln in two days. Tong Laigou, chairman and general manager of CBMI Construction, said that the CBMI and Cemex Philippines' teams worked under strict protocols to secure the safety of the site.


Pakistan: Cherat Cement plans to spend US22m on an upgrade to Line 1 at its integrated plant in Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The project includes the installation of a new crusher and general maintenance on the production line.


Belgium: IKN was presented with the first clinker from a modified calciner and IKN cooler installed at the CBR Cement integrated Antoing plant on 24 December 2020. The cement sector engineering supplier said, “We thank everybody involved for their determination and efforts in this challenging project: in spite of Coronanirus and a tough schedule there was no compromise on safety!” CBR Cement is a subsidiary of Germany-based HeidelbergCement.


Peru: Cement and clinker production fell by 14% year-on-year to 9.14Mt and 39% year-on-year to 5.54Mt respectively in 2020. Data from the Association of Cement Producers (ASOCEM) shows that production fell significantly during March to May 2020 at the same time as a coronavirus-related lockdown. However, ASOCEM reports that cement sales from August to December 2020 were higher than the historical monthly averages. Exports of cement and clinker fell by 28% to 0.14Mt and 56% to 0.31Mt. Imports of cement decreased by 7% to 0.72Mt but clinker imports grew by 7% to 0.67Mt.


China: Seven of Huaxin Cement’s plants have been selected on a national energy efficiency list released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Administration of Market Regulation. The list contains energy efficiency ‘leaders’ from energy intensive industries in 2020. It includes 28 cement companies. Huaxin Cement’s plants were selected in Xinyang, Yangxin, Zhaotong, Zhuzhou, Xigaze, Wuxue and Tibet factory. Of these the Xinyang plant had the lowest energy intensity of clinker production of all the cement producers on the list.


China: Sinoma (CNBM) International Engineering’s value of new projects grew by 9% year-on-year to US$5.3bn in 2020. Most of these projects came from growth in its construction business segment. However, new project value from its equipment manufacturing business fell by 5% to US$629m. By region, domestic new project value decreased by 3% to US$2.1bn but overseas new project value rose by 19% to US$3.2bn. The engineering company and member of CNBM group also reported that its US$480m project to build a 5000t/day clinker production line in Zambia for Central African Cement remains in the financing stage. The project was originally announced in late 2018.


Japan: Sumitomo Osaka Cement become partner of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) GREEN, an online database and network that organisations in the sustainable technology innovation value chain network with each other. The cement producer says it developing a high-performance product business that will supply sustainable cementitious products to help society build infrastructure. It is doing this by increasing co-processing rates, using more industrial by-products and developing new technologies to support a carbon neutral society.


UK: Cemex Ventures has invested in Modulous, a London-based company that uses a modular construction system. Modulous says it digitises its materials supply chain management to reduce costs and time and in construction process. It uses machine learning, generative design and 5D BIM modelling in its supporting software to support this. No value for Cemex Ventures’ investment in Modulous has been disclosed.

"By including Modulous in our portfolio, we offer the industry a unique offsite construction model" said Mateo Zimermmann, head of Cemex Ventures investment in Modulous. "The Modulous innovative approach enables the supply chain to deliver sustainable and high-quality homes, significantly reducing time and costs. Modulous does not require additional capital expenditure, which makes it globally scalable. This team is going to revolutionise the residential development industry.”

Modulous has secured a number of projects in the UK and Europe. It is currently preparing the delivery of a Euro7m residential scheme in London using its design and construction system that it claims will achieve completion 12 months ahead of schedule. Modulous is one of the winners of the 2020 Construction Startup Competition, the annual startup challenge organized by Cemex Ventures.


UK: The Safety & Health, Environment & Climate Change and Technology & Innovation committees of the World Cement Association (WCA) have announced their goals for 2021 following the association’s general assembly meeting in December 2020.

The Environment & Climate Change committee will focus on accelerating sustainability through addressing energy efficiency, alternative fuels, digitisation, carbon capture, utilisation and/or storage (CCUS) and promoting low carbon cement and concrete. The committee also intends to seek commitments from progressive companies towards zero/low carbon cement production. The Technology & Innovation committee plans on reducing emissions and energy consumption, green product innovation, ‘Industry 4.0’ and digitalisation. It will also work with the PEGASUS 2020 programme, offering expertise on WCA benchmarking and performance improvement initiatives. The Safety & Health committee has introduced a series of initiatives for 2021, ranging from Covid-19 support and preventative measures, to managing high risk activities such as energy isolation and traffic safety. This committee also hopes to create an anonymised incident database, collected from WCA members, with the intention of avoiding high-risk incidents and sharing best practice.

“This has been a very challenging and unpredictable year for our industry, and we have all had to adapt and find new ways of working. In this context, I’m especially pleased with how our professional committees have continued to work together effectively to tackle some of the sector’s key issues.” said Ian Riley, the chief executive office (CEO) of the WCA CEO.

The February 2021 issue of Global Cement Magazine will include an interview with Ian Riley, WCA and Alex Cameron, Decarb Connect


Switzerland: Holcim Switzerland has started using three full electric concrete mixer trucks. The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim is working with Designwerk, a Switzerland-based company specialising in the electric mobility sector. Designwerk has equipped a motorless basic chassis of a Volvo vehicle with electric motors for both locomotion and the mixing drum. This is intended to be sustainable and offer quiet driving, mixing and unloading. The three vehicles are expected to save around 90t/yr of CO2.

The trucks are labeled with the Futuricum brand and are active in the St Gallen, Zurich and Basel regions. The building materials company says that electric vehicles suit concrete logistics because they cover relatively short transport routes and have a fixed starting point with a battery charging station in the Holcim concrete works. Holcim says it obtains the electricity it needs exclusively from renewable energy sources.


South Africa: The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) started a ‘sunset’ review in December 2020 of import tariffs imposed on cement from Pakistan. The investigation will last up to 18 months, according to Moneyweb. Existing anti-dumping duties, which were first implemented in 2015, will remain in place during proceedings.

The review by ITAC follows lobbying by the Concrete Institute (TCI) in 2019 to add additional protection against imports of cement from other countries like Vietnam. Construction industry data company Industry Insight reports that Vietnam accounted for 70% or 0.47Mt of the 0.68Mt of cement imported into South Africa in the first nine months of 2020. The remaining 30% or 0.20Mt came from Pakistan.


Mali: A strike by two hauliers unions based in Senegal has caused cement shortages. The Union des Routiers du Sénégal and the Intersyndicale du Secteur des Transports Routiers both started strike action in late December 2020, according to Bamako News. The country has three main cement plants - Ciments et Matériaux du Mali (CMM), Diamond Ciment (DCM-SA) and Ciments d'Afrique (CIMAF) – but these companies only have a production capacity of 2Mt/yr. This is estimated to be 50% of Mali’s national requirement of 4Mt/yr. Commentators have called for a national cement supply policy in response to the situation and to reduce reliance on imports.


Oman: Raysut Cement’s revenue grew by 7% year-on-year to US$235m in 2020 from US$219m in 2019. Its profit after tax increased to US$36.5m from US$5.88m.


Sri Lanka: Onyx Group chairman Nandana Lokuwithana says that his company will start operations at its 3.6Mt/yr grinding plant in Mirijjawila, Hambantota later in 2021. The unit has an investment of nearly US$100m, according to the Sunday Observer newspaper. It was previously reported in 2019 that two roller mills for the project had been ordered by Lanwa Sanstha Cement from Germany-based Gebr. Pfeiffer. Lanwa Sanstha Cement is a related company to Onyx Group.


Spain: LafargeHolcim has successfully demolished a 78.5m high silo at its Los Barrios Port Terminal in the Port of Algeciras. The company is currently dismantling its unit at the port. A specialised company was hired by the cement producer to conduct the operation following a survey.


US: The Maui Planning Commission has approved Hawaiian Cement’s final environmental assessment as part of its plan to move its Kahului Harbour cement terminal to an adjacent facility. The application will now move to the state Office of Environmental Quality Control for a 30 day period before the permitting process can continue, according to the Maui News newspaper. The relocation will see the erection of two new silos, with a total capacity of 6000t.


India: ACC and Ambuja Cements have chosen US-based Blue Yonder to improve their supply chain management. Both subsidiaries of LafargeHolcim are using Blue Yonder’s Luminate Planning software product to help improve sales and operational planning.

"We chose Blue Yonder as our partner for supply chain management digitalisation because Luminate Planning will give us greater visibility into our combined supply chains," said Rajeev Mehta, chief logistics officer, ACC and Ambuja Cement. "The objective of this project is to improve the customer experience and service levels, yet profitably grow by tapping into the synergies of our supply chains, thus maximising capacity utilisation and minimising overall cost."


US: Charah Solutions has been awarded a marketing contract by Dominion Energy for the beneficiation and utilisation of up to 8.1Mt reclaimed ponded coal ash at its Chesterfield Power Station in Chester, Virginia. The contract will run from 2021 until 2032. It follows local state legislation requiring the power company to remove coal ash from sites at the Chesterfield Power Station within 15 years.

As part of the agreement, Charah Solutions will install processing and transportation infrastructure in 2021 to facilitate rail transportation of the ash from Chesterfield Power Station to cement kiln feed markets. The beneficiated ash product will replace other currently utilised virgin raw materials in the production of Portland cement at multiple cement kiln locations in the eastern US for the next decade and beyond, and help supply the growing demand for concrete in the construction industry.


Pakistan: Cement producers including DG Khan have filed pleas to the Pakistan Supreme Court challenging the Lahore High Court’s ruling in favour of parliament’s right to introduce new competition legislation. The pleas challenge the constitutionality of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP)’s existence, according to the Pakistan Today newspaper. The producers claim that the high court made a procedural error in failing to adjourn during the coronavirus pandemic and a domestic ban on air travel.


Vietnam: The Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA) says that the average cement production of each integrated cement plant is 2.2Mt/yr. It alleges this is the lowest output in the Southeast Asian region, according to the Viet Nam newspaper. It further explained that 70% of the country’s plants produce less than 1Mt/yr of cement, accounting for 20% of the total output.


China: Huaxin Cement has forecast a 9 -14% year-on-year fall in full-year net profit in 2020, of up to US$140m. It said that it recorded a net profit attributable to shareholders after deducting non-recurring gains and losses of around US$980m in 2019.

The company said, “The main reason for 2020 performance decline is the hit of Covid-19 in the first half of this year and vast flood disaster along Yangtze River in July 2020. The sales volume of main products were hugely affected and the price fell to some extent, leading to the reduction in the operating revenue.”


Germany: Denmark-based FLSmidth has entered into non-binding negotiations with ThyssenKrupp over the possible acquisition of its mining business. Mining is one of ThyssenKrupp subsidiary ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions’ major businesses, alongside cement. This business segment reported net sales of Euro2.9bn in its 2020 financial year, a small decline from the sales figure in 2019 despite the coronavirus pandemic.


UK: Cemex UK has supplied 70m3 of Vertua Classic concrete to the site of Citu’s upcoming office building in its Climate Innovation District in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It will provide the building’s foundations. The company says that it has a 30 – 50% smaller carbon footprint than a standard mix. It produced the concrete at its Leeds ready-mix plant.

Ready-mix technical manager Tracey Carden said “We are very proud to have supplied our Vertua Classic concrete to the latest phase of work at Citu’s Climate Innovation District in Leeds, particularly as this will be its head office. This is a development that prioritises sustainable construction, making our low-carbon concrete the obvious choice for the office building foundations.”


US: Georgia Power will begin dewatering three ash ponds at its Mitchell power plant in Albany, Georgia. The company says that the coal ash will be used in local cement production.

Environmental and natural resources vice president Mark Berry said “As we begin the dewatering process at Plant Mitchell, we continue to focus on safety and meeting all requirements throughout the process to fulfill our longstanding commitment to protect the environment, our local communities and water quality every step of the way." He added “Throughout the process, clear communication to our customers and the community about our progress remains a priority."

With the Plant Mitchell project, approximately 2Mt of stored coal ash will be removed from the existing ash ponds for reuse in cement manufacturing. The project at Plant Mitchell marks the first time that stored ash from existing ash ponds at sites in Georgia will be excavated for beneficial reuse as part of an ash pond closure project. At present Georgia Power recycles more than 85% of all ash and gypsum, including more than 95% of fly ash, it produces from current operations for various beneficial reuses such as concrete production as well as other construction products.


India: Star Cement plans to increase the cement production capacity of its Guwahiti integrated cement plant in Assam by 2Mt/yr. It also plans to increase its clinker production capacity in Meghalaya by 2Mt/yr. The Free Press Journal newspaper has reported the total cost of the planned investment is US$137m. Managing director Sajjan Bhajanka said that the company would complete the work by mid-2023.


US: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded CalPortland’s Rillito cement plant in Arizona with its ninth consecutive Energy Star. Efforts towards energy intensity reduction at the plant included: replacing two preheater tower cyclones, installing 11km of new belting to a quarry belt conveyor, replacing the kiln baghouse fan and dust collector bags, increasing the plant’s focus on energy efficiency by expanding its energy team, conducting more frequent energy meetings and communicating energy efficiency best practices throughout the plant.

President and chief executive officer (CEO) Allen Hamblen said “CalPortland is pleased to accept the EPA’s Energy Star 2020 certification in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts at the Rillito plant. We continue to demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship and Energy Star while also reducing our energy costs through the hard work of our employees and our corporate energy management culture.”


Ukraine: The District Administrative Court of Kiev has dismissed Belarusian Cement Company (BCC)’s claim against the government’s Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade for the cancellation of anti-dumping duties on cement. The duties on imported cement are 57% the value of goods from Belarus, 94% from Moldova and 115% from Russia. The commission introduced the tariffs in late May 2019 and they will expire in late May 2024.

The law firm representing third parties Dyckerhoff Cement Ukraine, HeidelbergCement Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk Ukraine and CRH subsidiary Podilsky Cement said "The court recognised the need to protect the violated rights of national cement producers in Ukraine from dumped imports of goods to Ukraine.” It added that the imports had caused ‘significant damage’ to national producers.


Mexico: Cemex Mexico has signed an agreement with the state government of Puebla for the repair of 5km of road near Tepeaca. The El Sol de Mexico newspaper has reported that under the agreement Cemex will supply hydraulic concrete for the works. The company plans to first repair a 3km stretch of the road, then complete the remaining 2km in 2022.

President Juan Romero said “The purpose of Cemex is to build a better future. That is the reason that drives us to get up every day. We started at home, by building it for the more than 12,000 employees who work in the company and we made sure that everyone found in Cemex the best place to work and develop personally and professionally; but we also do it for our clients, with products of the highest quality and giving the greatest focus and attention to all the projects in which we participate, from the smallest expansion or remodeling of a small rural house to the large infrastructure works that they are underway in the country.”

In 2019 and 2020 the company invested US$3.5m in social projects in Puebla State. It repaired 4.5km of roads and donated 160t of concrete.


UK: Yorkshire Water is trialling a new concrete surface applicant designed to prolong the lifespan of concrete. It says that the alumina and zirconia silicate ceramic surface treatment protects concrete from wet/dry and freeze/thaw cycles, peeling, flaking, chalking and delaminating. This reduces the need for replacement of concrete structures, reducing CO2 intensity by 43% compared to bare concrete, according to the company. Advanced materials producer Haydale supplied the product.

Senior project manager Jonathan LeMoine said “In early 2021 we will be using one of our capital partners to apply the material to a number of our chemical bunds. The results will be immediately apparent and will pave the way for a larger programme of works protecting our assets.” He added “We often invest in trialling new technologies and techniques to pave the way for lower emissions in our capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure (OPEX) solutions. We’re excited to see the results from this trial, and hope that it will provide a low carbon alternative to demolishing and rebuilding.”