Brazil: CSN reportedly received non-binding offers for its cement division on 7 May 2026, according to Reuters, as part of its plans to reduce debt. The company has appointed Morgan Stanley to advise on the sale process. The business is reportedly valued at more than US$2bn. The identities of the bidders were not disclosed, but companies that have shown interest include Anhui Conch Cement, Huaxin Cement, Sinoma and Votorantim Cimentos. CSN chief financial offer Marco Rabello told Reuters that a binding phase would start shortly after the receipt of non-binding offers and the selection of groups moving to the next phase.

Zimbabwe: Dinson Industrial Group will invest US$15m in a cement grinding plant in Manhize, Midlands province, with a capacity of more than 0.3Mt/yr, according to The Sunday Mail. The company said that production will start by mid-2027 and will create around 150 jobs. The group already operates Dinson Iron and Steel in Manhize, and the move into cement production is reportedly part of the company’s strategy to leverage by-products from its steel operations.

Projects director at Dinson Wilfred Motsi said “We are extending our tentacles into cement production because through the steelworks project, we generate slag as a raw material. The development of the cement plant is therefore a direct response to the government’s call for beneficiation and industrialisation.”

The project will source limestone from areas such as Lalapanzi and Masvingo. Zimbabwe’s cement industry is currently experiencing rising demand, driven by large-scale infrastructure projects, mining expansion and increased private housing construction. However, local production capacity has reportedly struggled to keep pace with demand, so the entry of new players is expected to ease supply constraints and stabilise prices. using slag from its steel operations alongside limestone sourced locally. Zimbabwe currently imports 35,000t-45,000t/month of cement to meet demand of around 1.8Mt/yr.

India: IKN has commissioned a 6000t/day clinker cooler at Vicat Group subsidiary Bharathi Cement’s Kadapa plant, replacing an existing walking floor cooler. The company said that commissioning expert Dhuwarakesh Ragavan is assisting with start-up and finetuning. IKN said that the new clinker cooling system will increase operational reliability, cooling efficiency and support sustainable plant performance.

North Korea/China: North Korea has ‘significantly’ increased imports of Chinese cement since the beginning of May 2026, as regional construction projects increase pressure on domestic supply ‘beyond its limits’, according to independent newspaper Daily NK. A source in Jagang province told the newspaper that cement shipments moving through border crossings along the Yalu River have risen since early April 2026. “There are so many construction projects right now that domestic cement output simply cannot keep up with demand,” the source said.

The crossings reportedly connect Chinese border towns to key entry points in North Korea: The Changdian Hekou crossing links to the area near Supung Dam in Sakju county, North Pyongan province; the Ji’an crossing serves the Manpo and Jasung areas of Jagang province; and the Linjiang crossing connects to the Junggang area, also in Jagang province. Imports of Chinese-made construction materials through all three crossings have risen ‘sharply’ in recent weeks. This increase is reportedly a direct result of Kim Jong Un’s ‘20x10 Regional Development Policy’, which called for the construction of new factories, hospitals and apartment buildings in 20 counties per year for 10 consecutive years. Border crossings in Jagang and North Pyongan provinces have risen due to shortages, transport costs and quality concerns linked to domestic cement production. Transporting cement from the Sunchon Cement Complex in South Pyongan province or the Sangwon Cement Complex in North Hwanghae province also involves ‘substantial’ freight costs that make domestically produced cement difficult to secure due to the mountainous terrain of Jagang province.

With the pressure to meet state-mandated output targets, North Korean cement plants have also reportedly been rushing production in ways that compromise quality, and Chinese cement has earned a reputation on building sites for its ‘superior’ strength and workability. The source said “Domestic cement often lacks strength, and there are significant losses during transport due to packaging and storage problems. Chinese cement costs a little more, but the quality and packaging are far better.”