India: Sagar Cements says that it will pay US$111m to acquire Andhra Cements outright. The Hindu BusinessLine News has reported that the deal will more than double the producer's capacity to 8.25Mt/yr. By 2025, Sagar Cements expects to increase the newly acquired subsidiary's clinker capacity by 1.2Mt/yr, and its grinding capacity by 600,000t/yr. The group plans to invest US$56.8m in capital expenditure before 2025 in order to realise its plans.

Taiwan: The Taiwanese Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has fined 18 companies a total of US$7m for participation in a ready-mix concrete price-fixing cartel. The companies, including Taiwan Cement, all participate in the ready-mix concrete industry in Taoyuan Special Municipality. The FTC said that the companies have colluded both in person and via messaging apps in order to raise the price of concrete in Taoyuan, since 'as early as November 2018.' Other recipients of fines include Goldsun Building Materials, Ya Tung Ready Mixed Concrete and 15 companies based in Taoyuan. Fines range from US$16.5m up to US$329m for larger participants.

CNA News has reported that Taiwan Cement denies involvement in any cartel.

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has successfully launched its new fleet of 35 liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled trucks from its Murli cement plant in Maharashtra. The trucks are of two types, covering ranges of 50 - 600km, and will transport bagged cement and bulk raw materials. They have 28% lower CO₂ emissions than conventional diesel-powered trucks, and are thus able to eliminate 840t/yr of CO₂ emissions, while also reducing emissions of nitrous oxides (NO_x) by 59% and particulates by 91%, and eliminating emissions of sulphur oxides (SO_x).

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) says that its next move will be to launch a second fleet of 25 trucks from its Ariyalapur cement plant in Tamil Nadu. By April 2024, it plans to convert 10% of its 3000 truck-strong fleet to LNG fuel.

A spokesperson for the company said “Dalmia Cement has been following the business philosophy of Clean & Green is Profitable and Sustainable. Our overall CO₂ emissions have come down from 670kg/t to 467kg/t – one of the lowest globally – and we are focusing on realising our carbon negative goal by 2040. We are delighted to partner with GreenLine Logistics for further reduction of our Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions.”

Philippines: Germany-based TÜV Nord has awarded three ISO certificates to Philcement Corporation's Bataan cement bagging plant and distribution centre in Mariveles. The facility achieved an ISO 9001:2015 for quality management, an ISO 45001:2018 for occupational health and safety management and an ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management.

Philcement Corporation, a subsidiary of PHINMA Corporation, previously secured a loan towards an upgrade to the Bataan terminal in September 2022.

Chair Ramon del Rosario Junior said “As we continue to provide a reliable and consistent supply of cement products of good quality, these ISO certifications attest to PHINMA, Philcement and our partners’ expertise in this industry. These give us even greater confidence in our operations and especially in the products that we offer our customers."