Russia: Soyuzcement has warned the government that the cost of cement could rise by up to 30% year-on-year in 2024 due to mounting energy, logistics and staffing costs. The national cement manufacturing union has informed various departments and agencies - including the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Construction and the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) - that this price rise will follow a 23 - 30% production cost inflation reported in 2023, according to the Kommersant newspaper. Other contributing factors have included negative currency exchange effects leading to a 20% rise in the cost of certain imported equipment items as well as logistic issues stemming from a shortage of drivers and declining fleet levels. Separate analysis by Kommersant estimates that the rising cost of cement in 2023 led to a 10 - 15% increase in the overall cost of construction in 2023.

Bolivia: Empresa Publica Productiva Cementos de Bolivia (ECEBOL) commissioned its new 1.3Mt/yr Potosí cement plant at Chiutara on 11 November 2023. Local press has reported that the producer overcame previous issues regarding gas and water supplies.

US: Martin Marietta Materials recorded sales worth US$5.17bn during the first nine months of 2023, up by 10% year-on-year from US$4.68. Meanwhile, the company’s earnings rose by 30% to US$1.23bn from US$944m. Building materials revenues in its West business rose by 10% to US$2.85bn, while those in its East business rose by 11% to US$2.08bn. Overall, the value of its cement sales rose by 21% to US$565m.

India: Grasim Industries recorded sales of US$3.63bn during the three-month period up to 30 September 2023. This represents a 10% year-on-year rise from the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. Its profit rose by 15% year-on-year, but fell by 26% quarter-on-quarter to US$140m.