Global Cement News

UK/Ireland: Irish cement importer Eircem has told the UK's Competition Commission that 'there is no free competition' in the cement market in Europe. Managing director Peter Goode submitted the comments as part of the evidence being gathered by the UK Competition Commission in its ongoing investigation on the UK cement industry, as reported by the Irish Independent.

"The most recent act of such practices and anti competitive activity by [European Cement Producer 1] and [European Cement Producer 2] against me, my business and my family is so blatant that it defies reality and logic," said Goode in his submission to the Competition Commission.

Goode alleges that his previous company suffered anti-competitive measures from a European cement producer in 2009 when it attempted to import cement from Turkey. Further claims include an incident on a visit to a UK cement plant in 2012 when an employee of a cement producer refused to supply him with cement because it had a pre-existing agreement with another company not to supply cement to Ireland.

According to the Irish Independent, Goode previously owned Goode Concrete, which collapsed in early 2011. The company is currently attempting to sue Irish building materials manufacturer CRH for damages also related to alleged anti-competitive behaviour.

The Competition Commission's investigation on the UK aggregates, cement and ready-mix concrete market is due to be completed in late 2013 with a publication date set for December 2013. Evidence from the investigation has been published on the Competition Commission website.

Peru: Cementos Pacasmayo has reported a rise in sales of 9.1% to US$197m for the second quarter of 2013 from US$180m in the same period in 2012. However the Peruvian cement producer's net profits were hit by negative exchange rate changes in the second quarter of 2013 and fell by 21.7% to US$8.38m. Despite the effects of the exchange rate drop, the company attributed its increase in sales to growing domestic demand for cement by so-called 'self-construction' projects.

The company's operating profit rose by 72.9% in the second quarter to US$27.9m from US$16.1m. Consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose by 60% to US$32.8m from US$20.5m. Total cement production increased year-on-year to 0.55Mt from 0.51Mt.

In its summary of quarterly events Cementos Pacasmayo reported that it obtained the approval of the environmental impact study in May 2013 for the construction of the new cement plant in Piura. Construction of the plant is expected to begin in the 'coming months.'

India: The state government of Bengal has approved a US$100m cement plant project by Reliance Cement that has been waiting for clearance since 2011, according to the Times of India. 100 acres of land near Durmut village in Raghunathpur, Western Bengal have been allocated to the project.

The project, Reliance's third cement plant, will have a production capacity of 3.5Mt/yr, comprising 1.75Mt/yr of Portland Pozzolana Cement and 1.75Mt/yr of Portland Slag Cement. Currently Reliance Cement operates two cement plants in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Kenya: Cemtech, the Indian cement firm owned by the Sanghi Group, is set to build a 30MW coal power plant for its proposed cement plant in West Pokot County. Construction of the plant is expected to begin on 14 August 2013, according to the Kenyan newspaper Business Daily.

15MW of electrical energy is intended to run the operations of the proposed cement plant. The remaining 15MW will be sold to the Kenyan national power grid said the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).

The entire cement plant project is expected to cost US$175m. The plant is due for completion in 2015 and will have a cement production capacity of 1.5Mt/yr. Although centered on the Kenyan cement market the plant will also target Uganda and South Sudan.

Greece: Titan Cement has increased its sales year-on-year in the second quarter of 2013 by 2% to Euro329m from Euro323m. The Greek-based multinational cement producer said that recovery in the US and 'resilient' demand in Egypt had compensated for continued decline in the Greek market.

Despite the increase in sales net profit fell by 81% to Euro5.3m from Euro27.8m. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 12.6% to Euro67.9m from Euro77.7m. Overall for the half-year to 30 June 2013, sales rose by 4.4% to Euro572m and EBITDA fell by 17.8% to Euro92.2m.

In Greece demand for cement continued to decline with domestic cement sales at around just a sixth of Titan's cement production capacity. In the US, the rebound of the housing market, particularly in Florida, has had a positive effect on demand for building materials. In south-eastern Europe demand for building materials remained low and profit margins 'shrank' due to competition. In Egypt, despite political instability and problems with production, demand remained stable and Titan was able to increase sales by importing clinker. In Turkey, construction activity grew, both in the private and public sectors, as did exports.

In its outlook Titan reflected upon the mixed fortunes of its major production territories, with continued growth expected for the US, instability in Egypt and continued gloom in Europe.