Mexico: Members of the National Cement Chamber (Canacem) are set to reduce cement bag weights from 50kg to 25kg to comply with NOM-036, according to El Financiero, which aims to prevent and control musculoskeletal and ergonomic diseases in construction workers. The shift affects companies such as Cemex, Cementos Moctezuma, GCC, Cemento Cruz Azul, Cementos Fortaleza and Holcim.

The standard came into effect on 31 March 2024, but Cementos Moctezuma has already started transitioning to 25kg bags. José Barroso, CEO of Cementos Moctezuma, said "Since 2023, Cementos Moctezuma began the transition from 50kg to 25kg bags in all of its packaged product family.” He added "In Mexico, musculoskeletal disorders represent almost half of the occupational injuries, so we are already implementing changes in our plants to operate according to the new standard.”

China: Huaxin Cement grew its revenue and profit in 2023 by growing its concrete market domestically and increasing its international business. Its revenue rose by 11% year-on-year to US$4.67bn in 2023 from US$4.21bn in 2022. However its operating revenue from cement and clinker declined. The group’s net profit increased by 2% to US$382m from US$373m. Its cement sales volumes grew by 2% to 76.8Mt from 75.3Mt. Concrete sales volumes mounted by 66% to 27.3Mm³.

The share of its international business grew by 16% in 2023 from 13% in 2022. Notable acquisitions in 2023 included the purchases of Oman Cement and InterCement’s assets in Sub-Saharan Africa.

China: Poor performance by CNBM’s Basic Building Materials division dragged down the group’s sales in 2023 despite positive performance by the group’s Engineering Technical Services and New Materials segments. Its revenue fell by 10% year-on-year to US$29.1bn in 2023 from US$32.3bn in 2022. Its profit after tax dropped by 33% to US$1.44bn from US$2.13bn. Sales volumes of cement and clinker decreased by 3% to 309Mt from 317Mt. Sales volumes of commercial concrete fell by 5% to 80.8Mm³ from 84.7Mm³.

Revenue for the Basic Building Materials division fell by 19% to US$16.4bn. The company blamed this on a fall in the price of cement, concrete and aggregates although an increase in sales volume of aggregates was noted. The group said that in 2023, the cement industry was characterised by ‘insufficient demand, weakening expectations and weakening off-peak season characteristics,’ coupled with and aggravating surplus and high costs.

India: UltraTech Cement has allocated US$3.8bn for capacity expansion over the next three years, including the acquisition of Kesoram Cement. The company aims to increase grey cement production to 198Mt/yr. Recently, it commissioned two new greenfield capacities totalling 5Mt/yr in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, raising its total capacity to 152Mt/yr. This exceeds more than 150% of the capacity of the US and 80% of Europe's capacity.

In the last year, UltraTech Cement increased its capacity by 19Mt/yr, with an additional 36Mt/yr being added at 16 locations.