Oman: Oman Cement has been included on a list of Sharia-compliant companies for the first quarter of 2018 compiled by the Muscat Securities Market. The 32 companies on the list conform to the requirements of Islamic Sharia according to the rules approved by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions, according to the Oman Daily Observer newspaper. Companies on the list cover a cross-section of industry including building materials, banking, food production and more.

Bolivia: Empresa Publica Productiva Cementos de Bolivia’s (ECEBOL) new 1.3Mt/yr plant at Caracollo in Oruro is scheduled to start operations in the first half of 2019. A consortium of Sacyr, Imasa and Polysius are working on the US$244m project, according to the La Patria newspaper. A US$2m electrical sub-station is also being built to support the plant.

Colombia: The Council of State has confirmed a fine to Cemex imposed by the Superintendent of Industry and Commerce (SIC) for fixing the price of cement. The ruling found that an agreement between Cemex Colombia, Holcim Colombia and Cementos Argos distorted the price, supply and sales of Ordinary Portland Cement in the second half of 2005. In particular the tribunal found that the way in which Argos gave information about Cementos Andino’s involvement in the national market to Cemex and Holcim was be anti-competitive.

Brazil: The Public Labour Ministry has signed an agreement with producers to reduce the standard weight of cement sacks sold locally to 25kg from 50kg. 33 cement producers, the local competition authority (CADE), the national cement industry union (SNIC), the Brazilian Portland Cement Association (ABCP) and Labour minister Ronalo Fleury all signed the arrangement, according to Surgiu. The agreement has been planned to reduce workplace accidents involving cement despatches.

The agreement establishes a deadline of 31 December 2028 for companies to adapt to the new standard, after which period only cement specifically for export can be over the 25kg limit, with all other sacks over 25kg to cease being sold from 1 January 2029. The agreement follows four years of negotiations.