Global Cement News

Malaysia/Singapore: Switzerland’s LafargeHolcim has signed a deal to sell its 51% stake in Lafarge Malaysia to YTL Cement for US$396m. Lafarge Malaysia operates three integrated cement and two grinding plants. With the divestment, LafargeHolcim will fully exit the Malaysian market. LafargeHolcim has also signed an agreement with YTL Cement Singapore for the divestment of its entire 91% share in Holcim Singapore.

YTL Cement is part of YTL Corporation, a Malaysian infrastructure conglomerate, which is active in cement production, construction, property development and utilities. The deal is expected to be completed within the second quarter of 2019. It is subject to approval by regulatory bodies.

Uzbekistan: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved a list of companies with state-owned shares to be sold to foreign investors. It includes the country’s 35.9% stake in Kyzylkumcement. Other sectors the government is divesting its shares in include insurance, banking, power generation, oil & gas and soft drinks.

India: Shree Digvijay Cement’s income rose by 2.5% year-on-year to US$63.6m in the year to 31 March 2019 from US$62.1m in the same period in 2018. Its profit fell to US$0.3m from US$1.93m. Notably, its power and fuel costs grew by 29% to US$22.3m during the year. For the last quarter of the reporting year its income fell by 11%. Private equity company True North purchased a majority stake in the cement producer from Brazil’s Votorantim Cimentos in April 2019.

Vietnam: SCG Vietnam has launched its SCG Super Cement product. The product is intended as a ‘premium’ multi-purpose cement for home owners, developers, contractors and architects, according to the Vietnam Economic Times newspaper. It can be used in a variety of applications including brick-laying, plastering and concrete work for structure and foundations.

US: Charah Solutions has opened a terminal for fly ash in Hopedale, Massachusetts. The unit has railway access and is connected to local road networks. It is intended to serve customers in New England.

Charah Solutions says that the terminal will increase the availability of fly ash from its MultiSource materials network locations in the South, New England, the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains and California. These locations supply Class C and Class F fly ash for ready mix concrete producers and other customers.