France: Heidelberg Materials’ new kiln line at its Airvault plant in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region has produced its first cement, according to a post by Director of Cement Bruno Manivet on social media. The plant commissioned the new kiln line in April 2026, which received an investment of €350m. The new Gebr. Pfeiffer MVR 5000 C-4 mill has produced its first batch of cement, with Manivet adding that the plant will produce lower-carbon cements from September 2026.

UAE: The Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation (FNRC) and JSW Cement have signed a contract to build a new cement grinding unit in Al Tawyeen with a production capacity of 1.65Mt/yr. The project will take place over a period of approximately 15 months and will reportedly help to meet growing market demand and enhance production efficiency through locally produced clinker. The expansion project comes in response to a growing demand for cement in the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, alongside urban growth and the expansion of infrastructure and construction projects.

Pakistan: Cement despatches declined by 0.7% in August 2026 to 4.04Mt, against 4.07Mt despatched during August 2025. According to the data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association, local cement despatches by the industry in August 2026 were 3.28Mt compared to 3.32Mt in August 2025, showing a decline of 1%. Exports marginally increased by 0.92% from 0.75Mt in August 2025 to 0.76Mt in August 2026.

A spokesman of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association expressed ‘grave concerns’ over the ‘alarming’ situation in northern areas of the country due to heavy rains, according to the Business Recorder.

Mexico: Global Cement is in attendance at FICEM's Technical Convention 2026 conference and exhibition for the Latin American cement industry, which commenced proceedings on 1 September 2026. The Latin American cement association is hosting the event at the Expo Santa Fe México convention centre in Mexico City, Mexico, on 1 – 3 September 2026. A day of visits to cement and fuels sites will follow on 4 September 2026, encompassing: Cemento Cruz Azul’s Hidalgo cement plant; Cementos Moctezuma’s Tepetzingo cement plant; and Regenera’s Azcapotzalco refuse transfer station and sorting plant.

Delegates picked up copies of Global Cement Magazine at their tables in the conference hall and around the event’s two exhibition areas.