Ukraine: Cement production rose by 2.3% year-on-year to 9.3Mt in 2017. In 2016 it rose by 7.1% to 9.1Mt, according to the Ukrainian News Agency. Despite the growth in 2017 production fell slightly in December 2017. 15 companies produce cement in the country with a total production capacity of 25Mt/yr.
Legal firm suspends anti-competition fine for Calme
Italy: Legal firm Eversheds Sutherland has suspended a Euro1.8m fine imposed by the Italian Competition Authority on Calme. Fines were made to a number of Italian cement producers in August 2017, according to the Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper. They were in relation to allegations of price fixing and market share coordination between 2011 and 2016.
Holcim España invested over Euro2m in Jerez cement plant in 2017
Spain: LafargeHolcim’s subsidiary Holcim España invested over Euro2m in its cement plant at Jerez during 2017. The work included environmental improvements, changes to the despatch areas and health and safety upgrades such as fire detection systems in its fuels storage zones. The plant also introduced a sulphate-resistant cement product (CEM IV/A (V) 42,5 R/SR) in May 2017 targeted for marine applications.
SCG Cement sees sales growth in 2017 despite sluggish market
Thailand: SCG Cement’s sales revenue rose by 3% year-on-year to US$5.5bn in 2017. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 6% to US$705m. The cement producer reported that overall domestic Ordinary Portland Cement demand fell by 5% in 2017 due to a slow recovery in the private sector. Total domestic consumption of cement was around 37.5Mt 2017 and exports rose to 4Mt from 3.7Mt in 2016.
