Global Cement News

China: West China Cement’s sales revenue rose by 24% year-on-year to US$881m in 2018 from US$709m in 2017. Its cement sales volumes fell by 3.2% to 18.1Mt from 18.7Mt. Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 40.6% to US$393m from US$279m. Despite falling sales volumes, the cement producer said that increased prices boosted its margins.

By region the company said that sales volumes in Shaanxi Province remained stable, while the continuous low demand in the Xi’an Metropolitan Area and Central Shaanxi region led to occasional peak-shifting production halts by all producers during low season periods. Sales volume in Xinjiang Province remained low, while that of Guizhou Province were stable.

Libya: The Libyan Cement Company plans to spend Euro200m on an upgrade to its plant in Benghazi. The project will increase the unit’s production capacity to 3Mt/yr from 2Mt/yr at present. Planning is at an advanced stage, with tenders already issued for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of a mixture of new and upgraded facilities. The Central Bank of Libya, other banks and other investors will supply finance for the project.

The cement producer reopened its Benghazi plant in late February 2019. It has over 1000 employees with more openings to follow.

Iran: President Hassan Rouhani has inaugurated the Mond-Dashti Cement plant. He made the inauguration remotely by video link, according to the Tehran Times newspaper. The unit had an investment of around US$90m and a cement production capacity of 1.2Mt/yr. It has created over 170 jobs.

Australia: Wagners Cement has suspended its supply of cement products to Boral for six months. Wagners has a cement supply agreement with Boral where it supplies cement on an annual basis for a fixed price. However, Boral issued a notice to Wagners saying that it has found cheaper cement from a ‘long established’ supplier in South East Queensland.

As per the agreement Wagners can either match the lower price or suspend its supply. Wagners has decided to suspend its supply to Boral pending a resolution of the issue. It said that the potential financial impact of the pricing notice is US$14m.

Germany: Siemens will be hosting a mining media talk at the Bauma construction machinery trade fair in April 2019. Roland Ehrl, Minerals Executive Vice President, will be showcasing Siemens' portfolio of products, systems and solutions for the global mining industry. Dan Fodor, Head of Application Management and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Minerals, Christian Dirscherl, Vice President Mining Excavation and Transport Minerals, and Zeng Yun, Director Business Development Minerals, will be highlighting digital topics like Siemens' SmartMining, Autonomous Stockyard Management and Minerals Operation Management Solution.

The ‘Siemens Mining Media Round Table’ will take place on 9 April 2019 at the event in Munich. Registration is required to attend.