US: LafargeHolcim US has announced the launch of TerCem, a blended cement which offers 65% reduced CO₂ emissions compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), according to the company. LafargeHolcim US will produce TerCem at its Whitehall, Pennsylvania, cement plant. The product joins its ECOPlanet low-carbon cement range.

Senior vice president sales Patrick Cleary said "We are leading a market transformation and taking a step towards a net-zero future. Our cement organisation has invested heavily in broadening the industry's range of superior sustainable products designed to lower our carbon footprint with no compromise in quality and long-term durability."

France: Holcim has issued a statement after another day of the on-going criminal court case against Lafarge Syria on charges of financing a terror organisation, violating an embargo, endangering its employees and being complicit in crimes against humanity. Aljazeera News has reported that the company stands accused of paying US$15.3m to armed groups including ISIS, to which it allegedly also supplied cement. Prior to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, Lafarge Syria had invested US$601m in its cement operations in the country. Holcim called the alleged crimes a ‘legacy issue’ for Lafarge Syria. Following the group’s discovery of the historic conduct in 2016, it engaged third-party investigators and shared their findings with the courts.

Chair Beat Hess said “All the alleged charges against Lafarge SA are in stark contrast with everything that Holcim stands for as a company. The described events concerning Lafarge SA were concealed from the Holcim Board at the time of the merger in 2015 and go completely against the values of our company.” He added “On behalf of the board of directors of Holcim, I would like to reiterate how extremely shocked and appalled we are by the alleged charges against Lafarge SA.”

Germany: Aerzen Rental has added its new TVS2500 air compressor to its 10-bar range of air compressors. Parent company Aerzen said that it developed the TVS2500 to set the standard for power density, energy efficiency and quiet running. The compressor is designed for large material volumes. A frequency converter facilitates optimal pressure and volume flow control, while variable speed control also enables a gentle start with a low starting current. The device can be used in any existing power network. Efficient cooling inside the units further ensures a regular supply of compressed air at ambient temperatures of up to 45°C.

Zambia: Huaxin Cement has concluded its acquisition of Holcim's Zambian business. The business consists of a 75% stake in Lafarge Zambia. The company is reported to have a total value of US$150m. Both Chinese and Zambian competition authorities have now approved the deal.

Holcim's chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said "This divestment is another step in our transformation to become the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, giving us the flexibility to continue investing in attractive growth opportunities. Huaxin has been a trusted partner for many years and we see the company as an ideal owner to further develop the business in Zambia."

In 2020 and the first 11 months of 2021, the Switzerland-based group received US$3.1bn from divestments.