Portugal: Molins has signed an agreement with Portuguese investment group Semapa to acquire 100% of cement producer Secil for €1.4bn. Molins said that the deal reinforces its presence in Europe and ‘completes its geographic expansion’ in Latin America by entering Brazil, the only major market in the region where it was not yet present. Secil operates in eight countries with a cement production capacity of approximately 10Mt/yr. Its operations span cement, concrete, aggregates, construction solutions and circular economy initiatives. The company employs more than 2900 people and recorded €740m in sales over the past 12 months.

Malaysia: Cahya Mata Sarawak has broken ground on its US$165m Mambong Clinker Line 2 project, an investment aimed at expanding cement production capacity to meet Sarawak’s growing infrastructure and industrial demand. The new line will increase clinker output from 0.9Mt/yr to 1.9Mt/yr and is scheduled to begin operations in mid-2027.

Group managing director Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib said the project will ensure a stable supply of high-quality cement to support Sarawak’s long-term development. “This project not only strengthens our production capabilities, but more importantly guarantees a reliable supply of quality cement to support Sarawak’s fast-growing infrastructure and economy,” he said.

The plant will incorporate a waste heat recovery system capable of generating about 6MW of ‘electrical’ energy and will feature dust filtration systems to reduce emissions. Sarawak Premier Abang Johari said the expansion reduces reliance on imports.

Kenya: President William Ruto has ruled out repealing a levy on importing clinker. This contradicts a previous statement preparing to relax the tax made by a trade minister on the matter, according to the Business Daily newspaper. Ruto noted that his country has enough limestone and other raw materials to produce cement locally.

Ruto made the comments at a signing ceremony between Bamburi Cement and Sinoma CBMI to build a new 1.6Mt/yr clinker grinding plant in Matuga, Kwale County. In October 2025, Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the government would petition the Kenyan Parliament to repeal the 17.5% export and investment promotion levy on clinker and steel, noting that it had had unintended effects on companies in these sectors.

Puerto Rico: Cement production and sales continued to rise in November 2025, driven by sustained construction activity and job growth, according to the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC). Puerto Rico produced 731,000 42.5kg bags of cement during November 2025, marking a 45% year-on-year increase or 228,000 more bags than in November 2024. Total sales of bagged and bulk cement reached nearly 1.2 million units, an 11% increase compared to the same month in 2024.

“These results reflect continued growth in construction activity in Puerto Rico,” said the DDEC, attributing the momentum to both public and private projects. Governor Jenniffer González said the figures showed a broader economic recovery. “The increase in cement production and sales, along with job growth in the construction sector, are clear signs that Puerto Rico continues to move forward with a strong and active economy. Our administration will continue to promote strategic projects that foster investment, infrastructure and quality jobs for our people.”