UK: 18 May 2026 marks the 10th Anniversary of the World Cement Association (WCA), a milestone that the WCA says reflects a decade of profound transformation for both the global cement industry and the wider world economy. Founded in London, UK, in 2016 to provide an independent international platform for cement producers and industry stakeholders, the WCA has since grown into a global network that promotes cooperation, innovation, sustainability and operational excellence across the sector.

WCA said that its first decade has coincided with one of the most turbulent and transformative periods in modern history. Over the past 10 years, the world has faced the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, energy crises, supply chain disruption, accelerating climate change, inflationary pressures, and rapid technological advancement driven by digitalisation and AI. These developments have reshaped global trade, manufacturing, construction and industrial policy, while placing increasing pressure on heavy industries to adapt and decarbonise. At the same time, the global cement industry has undergone significant structural change. Markets have shifted geographically toward Asia and emerging economies, sustainability has become central to corporate strategy and innovation in low-carbon technologies, alternative fuels, digital manufacturing, and circular economy practices have accelerated at an unprecedented pace.

As the WCA enters its second decade, the Association reaffirmed its commitment to the principle of ‘openness, inclusiveness, sharing and win-win’ and to advancing sustainable development, fostering innovation, encouraging international collaboration, and supporting the cement industry’s long-term transition toward a lower-carbon and more resilient future.

Georgia: A US$70m expansion of the Kaspi cement plant has begun, according to parent company Hunnewell Cement. The company said that the project will include a new clinker line and additional grinding capacity to bring total production to 2Mt/yr, from 1Mt/yr at present. The opening of the project was attended by Hunnewell Partners’ managing partner Irakli Rukhadze, Hunnewell Cement’s director David Jugashvili, director general of the Georgian Co-Investment Fund Ivane Khvedelidze and Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

The company said that the project will facilitate reduction of the country’s dependence on imports and ‘ensure uninterrupted supply to major infrastructure projects.’

India: Adani Group subsidiary Ambuja Cements has submitted a US$60m offer to acquire the bankrupt Jaypee Cement Corporation, an affiliate of Jaypee Associates. The only other bidder, My Home Group, exited the process after submitting an offer of US$30m. However, the Ambuja offer is well below the liquidation value of US$83m, according to sources speaking to the Economic Times. Lenders are now reported to be negotiating with the Adani Group to further raise the offer. Adani Group has not yet responded to the Indian press regarding the matter.

Jaypee Cement was admitted into corporate insolvency in July 2024 following a petition by the State Bank of India. The company has an integrated cement capacity of 5Mt/yr and owns two captive power plants totalling 60MW. Operations at its 1.2Mt/yr cement plant in Shahabad, Karnataka, are currently suspended.

South Africa: The potential creation of regional production and distribution operations from West China Cement’s (WCC) acquisition of AfriSam - coupled to its earlier acquisitions in southern Africa - could result in preferential trade access to cheap imports at the expense of local producers. This is according to Philippa Rodseth, the executive director of the Manufacturing Circle, South Africa’s association of large manufacturing companies.

Rodseth said that the deal, which was approved by the Competition Commission in December 2025, had serious potential implications for local cement producers, claiming that countries in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) enjoyed preferential trade access with respect to several goods, including cement.

Rodseth said South Africa's cement sector is structurally oversupplied and that the local industry is challenged by weak domestic demand, excess production capacity, and rising electricity and logistics costs. "The creation of a regional production and distribution platform capable of supplying cement into South Africa from neighbouring countries enjoying preferential SACU and SADC trade access has the risk of being exploited."

Matias Cardarelli, CEO of South Africa-based cement producer PPC, said that West China Cement already operates a cement import business to South Africa from its Mozambique operation. "The proposed acquisition raises serious concerns for South African local production, with AfriSam downsizing its production in South Africa and moving production to Mozambique, where West China Cement has significant spare capacity. It will become a distribution platform for Mozambique-produced cement,” said Cardarelli. “In fact, this transaction creates strong incentives to abandon local manufacturing since clearly it is cheaper to produce cement in Mozambique and sell it in South Africa with no tariffs." Cardarelli stressed that PPC would not lower its health and safety or environmental standards in South Africa in order to compete with cheaper imports, reiterating his company’s commitment to high-quality South African-made cement.

Companies in South Africa’s construction sector have long pleaded with government and regulators for tariff measures to protect the local cement sector from the dumping of imports from markets such as Pakistan. In response, International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa commissioner Ayabonga Cawe said that ordinary customs duties on cement imports are bound at zero in line with the country’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.