Global Cement News

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement has appointed Jorge Alejandro Martinez Mora as its managing director with effect from 1 December 2023. He succeeds Yago Castro Izaguirre in the post. Castro Izaguirre has been the head of Caribbean Cement since late 2020. He will take up another role in Cemex Group.

Martinez Mora is a civil engineer with knowledge and experience in commercial, corporate and operational fields. He has worked for Cemex and its subsidiaries since 2004 and, most recently, held the position of Builders Segment Regional Director for the Cemex Group's Central Region in Mexico, based in Mexico City.

South Africa: Matias Cardarelli has been issued a work permit by the government and will formally become the chief executive officer (CEO) of PPC from 1 December 2023. He will succeed Roland van Wijnen in the post. The appointment of Cardarelli was announced in September 2023 with a start date at some point in the final quarter of 2023. Wan Wijnen’s contract as CEO was extended from August 2023 to the end of December 2023 to allow for a handover and transition period.

Austria: Untha has appointed Katie Mallinson as its global marketing director. She has worked as the marketing director for Untha UK since 2021. She was previously the managing director of global communications firm UK-based Scriba PR, which she founded in 2013. As part of her new role she will be based in the UK, with a visiting role to Untha’s different global teams.

Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) recorded sales of US$3.62bn during the third quarter of 2023. This represents a fall of 12% year-on-year. Business World News has reported that the producer attributes the decline to the on-going ‘slow economic revival’ in Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, chief executive officer Roongrote Rangsiyopash said that he expects growth to accelerate, especially in Indonesia, where construction of the new capital city, Nusantara, is underway in East Kalimantan. SCG reported a third-quarter operating profit of US$86.9m, up by 26% year-on-year.

Rangsiyopash said “SCG has continuously adjusted its business strategy and has operated with caution and prudence, thereby maintaining financial stability.”

Ethiopia: Lemi National Cement Factory’s construction of its upcoming Lemi cement plant is 70% complete and will conclude in time for inauguration of the plant on schedule in early 2024. Ethiopian News Agency has reported that construction of the 8Mt/yr plant’s preheater frames and rotary kilns finished on 28 November 2023. China-based Sinoma International Engineering is carrying out the project, which has a total cost of US$600m. Lemi National Cement Factory is a joint venture of local conglomerate East African Holding and West China Cement subsidiary West International Holding.