25 May 2016
Ghana: Dangote Cement has appealed to the Ghanaian government to ban imports of cement from China. Dangote officials made the comments on a press tour of its own cement import terminal at Tema, according to Kaspa local radio. Chinese cement importers were accused of not paying correct tariffs and not holding adequate certification.
Dangote, a cement producer based in Nigeria, faced investigations by the Ghanaian Ministry of Trade and Industry in February 2016 due to allegations of predatory pricing reported by local media. As well as operating a 1Mt/yr cement import terminal the company is building a 1.5Mt/yr clinker grinding plant in Takoradi.
Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement revenue has fallen by 20% year-on-year to US$93.6m in 2015 from US$117m in 2014. However, its cement sales volumes rose by 2% to 1.64Mt from 1.61Mt. The company reported that its 2015 results were adversely affected by a devaluation of the Kazakhstan Tenge and the US Dollar. It also noted a net loss of US$3.4m in 2015 due to a foreign exchange loss of US$16.4m.
The cement producer expects that market demand in the country for cement will be stable or decrease slightly in 2016. This will depend on government investment plans and the general economy. It also hopes to regain its market share of 19% after falling to 17% in 2015.
Australia: Martin Brydon, the chief executive officer of Adelaide Brighton, has said that the company’s cement and clinker sales volumes in 2016 will be similar or slightly lower than in 2015. He made the comments at the building materials company’s annual general meeting.
Cement and clinker markets were reported to be stronger in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland; and weaker in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Adelaide Brighton’s cement sales are expected to improve in east coast markets. Cement sales generated 47% of Adelaide Brighton's revenue in 2015.
Adelaide Brighton has raised prices across all products in 2016 due to strong demand and raised costs of imports due to a weaker Australian dollar.
Philippines: Seasia Nectar Port Services has started commercial operations at Mariveles Dry Bulk Terminal in Bataan. Seasia chairman Ramon Atayde said the new facility would optimise the operations of dry bulk handling, according to the Manila Standard. The terminal is intended to handle shipments of clinker, coal, silica sand, other raw materials for cement and other dry bulk cargoes.
The company started the development of the 11.4 hectare port in 2015, including the development of a 5.9 hectare port facility with a 247m quay equipped with a 13.5m draft under the first phase. The initial phase of the project will accommodate two vessels of 120m or one supramax/panama vessel. It is designed to handle at least 3Mt/yr. The second and third phases will expand the dry bulk terminal to accommodate another two vessels or one supramax/panama vessel. Seasia is a joint venture company between Seasia Logistic Philippines and Nectar Group.
India: Ambuja Cement has completed a 0.9Mt/yr capacity upgrade at its Sankrail grinding plant in West Bengal. The US$50m upgrade was commissioned on 24 May 2016. The cement grinding plant has increased its production capacity to 2.4Mt/yr from 1.5Mt/yr. The upgrade was originally announced in late 2012.