Brazil: Three China-based cement producers: Anhui Conch, Huaxin Building Materials and Sinoma, have now entered the race to purchase CSN Cimentos from Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), along with local market leader Votorantim. Heavily-indebted CSN expects to raise US$3.0-3.6bn from the sale of its cement production arm.

Local observers state that Votorantim will face difficulties acquiring its largest competitor. It is therefore expected to bid through a consortium with partners rather than alone. A foreign buyer with no existing Brazilian cement plants faces no such issue, which gives the Chinese groups a cleaner path to approval.

CSN has signalled that it wants the cement sale, and a separate disposal of a stake in its logistics arm, to be concluded by the end of September 2026 and that it will pay the proceeds directly into its near US$8bn of debt. Any deal will still need clearance from Brazil’s competition authority, but the timeline will vary depending on whether the buyer is domestic or foreign-owned.

South Africa: Afrimat has announced that it has sold certain aggregates quarries and ready-mix concrete plants across South Africa for US$13.0m to Saturc. The sale forms part of a condition for Afrimat's acquisition of Lafarge South Africa Holdings, part of Holcim subsidiary Caricement, for US$6m in April 2024. Afrimat also agreed to repay a US$54.4m loan owed by Lafarge South Africa to Caricement.

The disposal is effective as of 8 June 2026 and will close on 1 July 2026.

India: UltraTech Cement has entered into an energy supply agreement and a share subscription and shareholders agreement to acquire a 13.99% equity stake in FPEL Services, a company engaged in the generation and transmission of renewable energy from wind. It will pay US$1.34m for the stake. Ultratech said that the acquisition will help it to meet its renewable energy requirements, optimise its energy costs and allow it to comply with regulatory requirements for captive power consumption under relevant electricity laws.

Separately, The India Cements, a subsidiary of UltraTech Cement, has also entered into similar agreements to acquire a 12.48% equity stake in FPEL Services for US$1.13m. The transactions are expected to be completed within 180 days from the execution of the energy supply agreement and the share subscription and shareholders agreement.

Spain: Mexico-based multinational cement producer Cemex has renewed its ISO 50001 energy management certification for 100% of its plants in Spain, including its facilities in Alicante, Alcanar (Tarragona), Morata de Jalón (Zaragoza), and Castillejo (Toledo), for another three years. This ISO standard is the most widely used worldwide for optimising energy use, reducing costs and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

The initiative is part of the company’s Future in Action roadmap, which focuses on the decarbonisation of processes and the development of innovative solutions with a lower environmental impact, such as cement and concrete with lower clinker content, the use of alternative fuels and a commitment to the circular economy.