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Costa Rican cement imports soar 10-fold 15 August 2017
Costa Rica: According to a report released by the government trade promotion agency Procomer, imports of cement into Costa Rica expanded from 10,418t in 2014 to 107,294t in 2016, representing a growth of 930% in only two years. Approximately 97% of the 2016 figure corresponds to cement imports from China, which is now the main origin of imported cement in the country.
In value terms, cement imports reached US$18.3m in 2016, only 5.4 times more than in 2014. Cemex and Holcim are the main cement manufacturers operating in Costa Rica. If the import volumes and prices are to be taken at face value, domestic plants would appear to be under increasing price pressure from the imported cement from China.
Dangote Retailers Bonanza proves popular 15 August 2017
Nigeria: Over the weekend of 12-13 August 2017 Dangote Cement gave out prizes totalling US$1.3m to its distributors and customers in its on-going Dangote Retailers Bonanza – Season 2. 10 ‘Star Winner’ retailers from the company's West region claimed their prizes. Some went home with 1200 bags of cement and a 40ft container and others won 600 bags and a 20ft container.
The process of awarding the prizes involved moving cement directly to traders, which, according to Dangote Cement, had the desired effect of raising interest among other cement traders.
Funmi Sanni, the West Regional Sales Director, said the decision to take the products to the retailers in their respective place of trade was to prove that the bonanza was real. She explained that the management designed the bonanza to reward its loyal retailers and help them shore up their businesses, saying this is why it has also included containers in the winning package.
Cementos Argos takes a knock in the first half of 2017 15 August 2017
Colombia: Cementos Argos has posted an 84.5% fall in its first half net profit in 2017 to US$19.3m. It made US$124.4m in the first half of 2016. It said that its operating revenues dropped by 3.9% year-on-year to US$1.42bn the first half of 2017, from US$1.48bn a year earlier.
Holcim Russia launches Saratov upgrade 14 August 2017
Russia: LafargeHolcim’s local subsidiary Holcim Russia has launched an upgrade at its cement plant in Saratov Region at a total cost of US$300m. The project to build a new dry process line began in 2012 and has increased the plant’s capacity to 4500t/day. According to local press the plant meets all modern standards and environmental safety requirements. It is expected that the line will be at full capacity by the end of 2017.
No new use for Weardale after 15 years 14 August 2017
UK: The owner of the former cement plant at Weardale, which has planning permission for a multi-million pound eco village, is working to finding a new use for the land. Lafarge UK sold the former Blue Circle cement plant in 2015, after plans to create a green energy village on the land ground to a halt due to the recession.
Durham County Council said it was still keen to support the development of the site by any interested party. A spokesperson for the owner said, “The owners are continuing to work with the council, who are very supportive, to find a solution for the works site. The new owners believe any solution has to be demand led. Although the planning consent for the eco village is still live, all parties recognise that with an estimated cost of delivery in excess of Euro110m, it was never likely to be built.”
Last Wednesday 9 August 2017 marked the 15th anniversary of the closure in 2002 and councillors and former employees have expressed frustration that the site remained empty, despite millions of pounds being spent developing the eco-village scheme so far.