Global Cement News

Belarus: The Belarusian government has granted reimbursement of cement producers’ interest payments on loans from state-owned Belarusbank and Belarus Development Bank. PrimePress News has reported that banks will fund the payments from the 2023 national budget.

Belarusian Cement Plant will receive US$47.1m-worth of reimbursement for interest payments on three loans from Belarusbank worth US$42.8m, granted between 2009 and 2011. Krichevtsementnoshifer will receive reimbursement of US$137m on two loans from Belarusbank worth US$116m, granted in 2012. Krasnoselskstroymaterialy will receive reimbursement of US$1.1m on a loan worth US$211,000 from Belarus Development Bank. Additionally, it will receive reimbursement of US$72.1m for five loans worth US$34.9m from Belarusbank in 2009 – 2012.

Mexico: Cemex has extended its US$93.1m receivable securitisation programme with US-based Finacity. Contify Banking News has reported that Finacity will administrate the programme on Cemex’s behalf until mid-2025.

Philippines: Republic Cement has won seven awards at the Presidential Mineral Industry Awards 2023. The producer’s Bulacan cement plant won the Platinum Achievement Award, while its Batangas, Iligan and Teresa plants all claimed Quarry Operations (Non-Metallic) Awards. The Bulacan plant also won the Best Forest Mining Award in the Non-Metallic category, in which the Iligan plant was second runner-up. Lastly, Bulacan cement plant won the Safest Mine (Non-Metallic) Award.

Republic Cement’s CEO Roman Menz said "Throughout our 67 years of service towards building the nation, Republic Cement has always been deeply and wholly committed to responsible mining. It is through responsible mining and our daily commitment to safety and sustainability that we are able to support robust communities and a thriving environment, towards a greener and stronger republic."

Chad: Société National de Cimenterie (SONACIM) has placed an order with a China-based machine parts supplier for a part for its Baoré grinding plant’s generator. Alwihda News has reported that previously ordered the part from a supplier based in Egypt, which since failed to make the delivery. Cement production has been suspended at the plant since early July 2022, pending delivery of the missing part.

SONACIM’s deputy director general Koye Ndaye Benoît said “As soon as the part arrives, production will be restarted.”

430 people are employed in SONACIM’s operations in Chad.

Pakistan: All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) members despatched 21.8Mt of cement during the six-month period up to 31 December 2022, the first half of Pakistan’s 2023 financial year. The figure corresponds to a decline of 21% year-on-year from 27.5Mt during the first half of the 2022 financial year. Producers exported 1.73Mt of cement, down by 49% from 3.39Mt in the first half of the 2022 financial year.

The drop in sales was most pronounced in Southern Pakistan, where producers despatched 4.66Mt of cement, down by 31% year-on-year from 6.75Mt. Meanwhile, Northern Pakistani producers despatched 17.1Mt of cement, down by 17% from 20.7Mt.

An APCMA spokesperson said “The current economic turmoil has badly impacted on cement consumption. Inflation has played havoc with the pockets of consumers. New construction projects, including housing, are few in number, while routine maintenance of residential buildings has been postponed for better times.” They added “The Russia-Ukraine war has badly impacted cement exports too.”