Global Cement News

Philippines: A total of 38 laboratories that conduct proficiency tests on cement products have participated in the fourth round of the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines' (CeMAP) proficiency testing programme. Twelve of the laboratories were from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), 15 from CeMAP members and 11 were non-member or private laboratories. These laboratories are subjected to proficiency test as a requirement for the renewal of their DPWH certificate of accreditation.

"Participation in the proficiency testing programme is a crucial component in our responsibility to ensure that only quality cement products are available in the market," said CeMAP president Ernesto Ordoñez.

Ordoñez disclosed that the programme's first round in 2006 only had CeMAP member laboratories, while rounds two and three involved both CeMAP member and DPWH laboratories. Round four was significant as all the private laboratories involved were required to seek DPWH accreditation. Ordoñez added that this proficiency testing is the first and only one in Southeast Asia. CeMAP intend to conduct the testing annually to monitor the competency and performance of the laboratories.

Nigeria: Nigeria's Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga has announced that he will conduct an independent assessment of the country's cement industry to make it more competitive. The move follows a dispute between importer Ibeto Cement Company and leading producer Dangote Cement.

According to Aganga, at a meeting for stakeholders from the cement industry held on 7 January 2013 in Abuja, by the end of the entire review the Federal Government will draw up with a new strategy for the industry with three goals. The first is to bring down the price of cement in the country, the second is increase consumption of cement and the third is work on policies to open up the export market.

Aganga defended Nigeria's 10-year implementation of the Backward Integration Policy (BIP). According to Aganga the BIP has resulted in about US$6bn of investment in the sector, with a growth from 2Mt/yr to 28Mt/yr, and it has saved the country foreign exchange of about US$1.4bn/yr. The Nigerian cement industry provides direct and indirect employment for about two million people.

"We have achieved everything we set for ourselves 10 years ago when the BIP was introduced; we want to take the next step as part of our strategy on the way forward," said Aganga.

Pakistan: Cement exports from Pakistan have fallen by 5.28% to 4.22Mt, according to figures on the first six months of the 2012-2013 financial year from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). However domestic cement sales increased by 7.61% to 11.7Mt in the same period. The Pakistan financial year runs from 1 July until 30 June.

A statement from the APCMA revealed that cement plants in the south of the country grew by 7.98% in the local market but posted even higher declines of 16.3% for exports. In the north, where the majority of the country's cement capacity of located, the industry posted a growth of 7.52% in domestic sales whilst exports declined by 1.31%.

The APCMA added that hype created on trade with India has so far not materialised and export in that market was only 0.209Mt during the last six months, a decline of 40.41% and a result well below the expectation of the cement sector. The APCMA spokesman blamed 'stringent non tariff barriers' from India.

During the last six months, the adjacent Afghanistan market remained stable and cement sector exported 2.41Mt. Exports to other destination through sea excluding India also remained stable in comparison with the last six months of 2011-12.

Saudi Arabia: Two of Saudi Arabia's largest cement producers, Yamama and Yanbu, have reported a growth in their profits in 2012.

Yanbu Cement announced a net profit of US$192m for 2012, an increase of 36.1% compared to 2011. The company said that such a performance had been made possible as a result of improved sales and the opening of a fifth production line part way through the year. The company also saw a 32.7% year-on-year increase in its fourth quarter sales to US$54.1m.

Yamama Cement revealed that its full-year net profits for 2012 increased by 11% to US$218m. However in the fourth quarter of the year its profits fell by 9% year-on-year to US$46.4m. The company blamed the lower sale prices achieved during the fourth quarter before the decline was reached.

A recent report by the National Commercial Bank (NCB) said that demand for cement in Saudi Arabia remains strong, with ongoing projects set to sustain growth for several years to come. It forecasted growth in market demand with a rate of 8.2% predicted in 2013 as demand reaches 56Mt. In the longer term NCB predictions expect continued demand growth of 6.3%/yr until 2015.

Yanbu is likely to benefit from any significant growth in demand, as it has three lines with a combined capacity of 1.3Mt/yr currently sitting idle. Predictions that this growth in demand will be disproportionately stronger in the western region could well yield another successful year to come in 2013.

UK: Lafarge and Anglo American have announced the completion of a 50:50 venture which combines their cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, asphalt and asphalt surfacing, maintenance services and waste service businesses in the UK. The joint venture will be known as Lafarge Tarmac and began trading today. The Lafarge Tarmac combination is expected to generate savings of Euro74m through improved operational, logistical and purchasing efficiencies and the introduction of value-added products across a wider geographic area.



Completion of the Lafarge Tarmac joint venture follows final clearance from the UK Competition Commission, based on the completed sale of a portfolio of Tarmac and Lafarge construction materials operations in the UK, which also occurred on 7 January 2013. The agreed sale of Tarmac's 50% ownership interest in Midland Quarry Products is subject to a right of pre-emption in favour of Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited. As a result of this the completion of this transaction is pending.



"We have successfully united two high quality and complementary UK businesses to create the leading UK construction materials company with high quality assets, two experienced management teams and a portfolio of well-recognised, innovative brands," said Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive of Anglo American.



"The closing of this transaction and the creation of a new British construction materials champion reinforce Lafarge's ongoing commitment to the UK market and its efforts to continuously improve its offering to customers, as well as playing a full role in developing the infrastructure needed for a growing economy," said Bruno Lafont, Chairman & Chief Executive of Lafarge.