US: ASTM International’s concrete and concrete aggregates committee (C09) is developing a proposed standard specification for a broad range of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM). Larry Sutter, an ASTM International member and the principal engineer at Sutter Engineering, commented that this performance specification (WK70466) will ease the adoption of new materials used for SCMs as established sources become less available.

Sutter said “For a variety of reasons, historic sources of SCMs, like coal fly ash from electric power generation, are in short supply and new materials are emerging.” He added, “These new materials do not fall under existing specifications, leading to the need for new specifications. Rather than writing a new specification for every emerging material, we are writing a performance specification that can be used to cover the full range of them.”

Sutter noted that concrete made with SCMs can be less costly, more durable and more sustainable than ordinary Portland cement. New specifications will allow these new materials into more construction projects. This effort relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7 on clean and affordable energy.

India: UltraTech Cement reported revenues of US$7.48bn in the 2023 financial year, up by 21% year-on-year from US$6.18bn in the 2022 financial year. The cement producer's total expenses rose by 29% to US$6.27bn. This contributed to an 8% decline in the company's earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to US$1.3bn from US$1.41bn.

North Korea: The Sunchon cement plant near Pyongyang is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding. President Kim Il Sung visited the site in May 1973 before construction started, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Cement from the plant has been used to build the West Sea Barrage, Kwangbok Street, Ryomyong Street, the Paektusan Hero Youth Power Station and additional ‘monumental edifices.’ Other the years of its operations workers at the site have been awarded the Order of Kim Il Sung and Order of Kim Jong Il, the title of Labour Hero, the title of Merited Calcinations Worker and other forms of recognition.

Nigeria: Dangote Cement recorded sales of US$609m during the first quarter of 2023, down by 13% year-on-year from US$699m during the first quarter of 2022. The producer reported a 25% decline in its cement sales volumes to 3.6Mt from 4.8Mt. Operating costs rose by 6% to US$355m from US$335m. Dangote Cement said that its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 14% to US$458m from US$403m.

Dangote Cement chief executive officer Arvind Pathak said “The cash crunch coupled with the uncertainty around the general elections led to a slowdown in key private and public infrastructure investments in Nigeria. Consequently, our domestic operations recorded a drop in volume." Pathak continued “In fulfilling our commitment to creating additional value for our shareholders, we have received regulatory approval for our second buyback programme. We will continue to monitor the evolving business environment and market conditions in making decisions on tranches."