Global Cement News

US: Eagle Materials has blamed falling sales from its Heavy Materials sector, including cement, concrete and aggregates, on ‘unusually’ wet weather. Its revenue from this market fell by 1% year-on-year to US$677m in the year to 31 March 2019 from US$685m in the same period in 2018. Cement sales volumes dropped slightly to 5.34Mt and concrete volumes by 12.5% to 0.8Mm³. Its operating earnings decreased by 10% to US$177m. Overall, the company’s sales and earnings grew slightly boosted by sales from its gypsum division.

Uzbekistan: China’s Huaxin Cement has held a ground breaking ceremony for a new 1.5Mt/yr cement plant it is building in Jizzakh region. The project has an investment of US$150m and it is scheduled to start operation in March 2020.

Ukraine/Russia: The Ukrainian government has imposed an embargo on Russian-manufactured cement and plywood in response to Russia’s ban on the entry of Ukrainian goods to the Russian market. The Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Ministry recommended to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine that imports be blocked for the following goods: Portland cement, calcium aluminate cement, slag cement, sulphate resistant cement and similar hydraulic cement varieties, pigmented and non-pigmented, finished or clinker, as well as glue wood, lamwood panels and similar materials made from laminated wood.

Ukraine imported an estimated US$17m worth of cement products from Russia in 2018. The latest sanctions follow a block by Russia on goods from Ukraine in mid-April 2019.

Belarus: President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has demanded that the local cement industry improve its efficiency and increase its exports. He made the comments following the approval of the appointment of Alyaksandr Dawhala as the new chief executive officer of Belarusian Cement, according to the Belapan news agency. He noted that export sales were improving with a focus on the European Union although key markets also include Poland, Latvia and Ukraine.

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expects San Miguel Corporation’s acquisition of a majority stake in Holcim Philippines to reduce the price of locally produced cement. Trade Secretary Ramon M Lopez said that he expected operational synergies and economies of scale to ‘hopefully’ bring down prices, according to the BusinessWorld newspaper. He also noted that import duties on imports of cement could also provide a ‘healthy competitive environment.’

San Miguel Corporation agreed to purchase LafargeHolcim’s 85.7% share in Holcim Philippines in early May 2019. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.