Iraq: The Delta Cement plant in Sulaymaniyah is ramping up local cement output following the commissioning of two clinker production lines built by Sinoma (Suzhou), which have capacities of 5300t/day and 6000t/day respectively. The second line was commissioned in July 2025. The plant is fully operated and maintained by Sinoma, and helps to reduce Iraq’s reliance on cement imports following years of conflict which has damaged local infrastructure.

Omar Hussein, deputy CEO of Delta Cement, said that the cement from the new lines is already supporting Iraq’s development goals and boosting its production capacity. The plant features a digital system developed by Sinoma to track equipment and respond quickly to any issues. Tang Jigang, maintenance manager, said "The platform not only helps reduce energy consumption and optimize production, but also ensures safe and stable operations through intelligent management.”

To address power shortages and unstable electricity supply, Sinoma also built a 15MW waste heat recovery system and a 50MW photovoltaic plant. The solar facility generates around 84 million kWh/yr, helping to cut about 60,000t/yr of CO₂ emissions.

Pakistan: Kohat Cement has expanded its renewable energy capacity with the successful installation of an additional 2.32MW on-grid solar power system at its plant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The company announced the development in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on 1 January 2026. With this latest addition, the total installed solar power capacity at the site has reached 17.66MW.

Vietnam: The country’s cement industry reached a record high in 2025, with total sales of 112Mt driven by a domestic consumption of 75Mt and nearly 37Mt of exports, according to the Ministry of Construction. This marks a 16% year-on-year increase. Domestic consumption rose by 13% from 2024, supported by strong public investment and the acceleration of key infrastructure projects. The export market also rebounded, growing by 28% year-on-year and generating over US$1.36bn in revenue in 2025. The industry's total cement supply stood at 125Mt. By comparison, total cement sales were 90Mt in 2024, 87Mt in 2023, and 93.6Mt in 2022.

The resurgence comes after a period of subdued activity, during which domestic demand was between 57-63Mt/yr, and exports had fallen to just 29-31Mt. Rising electricity prices remain a major challenge, prompting manufacturers to adjust prices and upgrade their plants to sustain efficiency. On the export front, a reduction in the clinker export tax from 10% to 5%, effective May 2025 through the end of 2026, has bolstered competitiveness and helped cement producers reduce costs in global markets.

US: An updated version of the Clean Competition Act (CCA) has been reintroduced to the 119th US Congress in December 2025. The legislation proposes levying a tax of US$60/t of CO₂ equivalent emissions associated with selected carbon-intensive goods, according to the American Action Forum (AAF). This would then be increased by 6% each year along with a carbon border adjustment of import taxes and export rebates. It would cover goods including cement, oil, gas, coal, refining, petrochemicals, fertilisers, hydrogen, adipic acid, iron and steel, aluminium, glass, pulp and paper and ethanol. The CCA is not expected to become law in the short-term. However, the AAF reckons that it provides a, “a meaningful framework for a US legislative approach to encouraging decarbonization in the US and abroad.”