US: HWI, a subsidiary of Calderys, has officially opened a new lightweight monolithics production facility in Fulton, Missouri, increasing its production capacity for lightweight refractory materials. The greenfield facility is located at the company’s rotary kiln complex and has direct access to local clay reserves. The plant includes a furnace system for its Greenlite aggregate production, robotic automation for packaging and material handling, and upgraded packaging capabilities. The company said the new facility will reduce lead times, support make-to-stock inventory and allow it to pursue larger-scale projects that were previously limited by supply constraints.

CEO of Calderys Michel Cornelissen said “Demand for these high-performance, energy-saving lightweight refractories continues to grow rapidly while global supply chains remain under pressure.”

Syria: The project to rehabilitate and modernise the Tartous cement plant in partnership with UAE-based QZ Group is advancing, as part of efforts to revive the industrial sector and reduce reliance on cement imports, according to Business News Africa. The project will upgrade the plant’s milling and packaging units, introducing modern technologies and improving environmental performance. Preparatory work is currently underway, including site cleaning, maintenance and equipment readiness before full-scale development begins.

Bassam Ali, director of the Tartous cement plant, said the agreement signed between the state-owned Omran Company and QZ Group also prioritises training local workers and transferring technical expertise. QZ project manager Ahmed Salma said that the initial phase includes engineering and environmental studies, as well as coordination with international suppliers for equipment procurement. The company has also begun importing clinker from Egypt and Saudi Arabia in preparation for grinding operations. The 15-year project is expected to increase domestic cement output and help to stabilise prices in the local market.

Algeria: Algeria has reportedly transitioned from a cement importing country to a net exporter following major investments in new cement plants and expanded production capacity, according to local press.

The country’s installed cement capacity is around 42Mt/yr, while domestic demand is estimated at between 20Mt/yr and 30Mt/yr. It exports around 10Mt/yr. Recent export activity was reported at the Port of Béjaïa on 23 March 2026, where ships were loading both bagged and bulk cement for export markets. One vessel loaded 10,000t of cement, while another loaded 46,200t. The Port Authority did not provide details on the destination of the exports.

Kyrgyzstan: The government has proposed introducing molecular marking of cement to combat the black market and improve transparency in production, imports and sales, according to Akchabar news. Under the proposal, cement classified under HS code 2523 would be subject to mandatory molecular marking from 1 June 2026, with a ban on the circulation of unmarked cement from 1 December 2026. The system would allow authorities to track cement from production or import through to final sale. The molecular marker would be added to cement without affecting its physical or chemical properties and verified using specialised equipment.

The country’s cement production capacity is estimated at 8.40Mt/yr, although actual output is reportedly significantly lower, and authorities believe some production and sales may be underreported. Cement imports reached 1.10Mt in 2025. The Cabinet of Ministers expects that the new marking system could double the size of the legal cement market within three years and generate up to US$34m per year in tax revenue from manufacturers, with additional revenue expected from concrete and other construction companies.