Peru: The Peruvian cement industry finished 2017 with rises in production and despatches in December 2017. Production rose by 13% year-on-year to 0.898Mt from 0.886Mt and total despatches rose by 1.5% to 0.88Mt from 0.86Mt, according to data from Asociación de Productores de Cemento (Asocem).

Overall, the year couldn’t overcome a poor first half negatively impacted upon by flooding caused by El Niño Costero in early 2017. Production fell by 1.1% to 9.98Mt from 10.1Mt and despatches fell by 1.2% to 9.92Mt from 10Mt. Despite this imports rose by 21% to 0.62Mt from 0.51Mt leading to a slight total increase of despatches and imports.

India: Binani Cement has received six bids in its sale process. Offers were received from UltraTech Cement, JSW Cement, Ramco Cement, HeidelbergCement India, Dalmia Cements and a pair of Indian investors, according to the Daily News & Analysis newspaper. The bids ranged from around US$630m to US$940m. However, each bid came with various clauses that made the committee of creditors refer them to a consultancy for evaluation.

Azerbaijan: Cement production rose by 243% year-on-year to 2.88Mt in 2017. Data from the State Statistics Committee showed that the overall value of building materials produced increased by nearly half to US$333m in the period, according to the Trend News Agency.

Colombia: Holcim Colombia plans to launch its new US$30m cement grinding plant in Buga in late 2018 or early 2019. Originally the plant was scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2018. The company also intends to focus on infrastructure projects such as the country’s fourth generation road development scheme, airport renovations and an urban train scheme in Bogota, according to La Republica newspaper.