Displaying items by tag: US
Çimsa Americas to establish 600,000t/yr grinding plant in the US
11 September 2023US: Çimsa and Sabancı Holding subsidiary Çimsa Americas plans to invest US$82m in the construction of a new 600,000t/yr grey cement grinding plant in the US. Daily Sabah News has reported that the company expects to complete the plant’s construction by the end of 2025.
Çimsa Americas already operates a 300,000t/yr white cement grinding plant in the US.
Solidia Technologies patents new synthetic pozzolan
11 September 2023US: Texas-based Solidia Technologies has patented a synthetic pozzolan that may be used as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in cement production. The product is based on previously low-value materials, including minimally processed oil shales and clay minerals. Solidia Technologies produces the material by various methods, including firing the materials to yield a mix of crystalline components and activatable amorphous phase material. Alternatively, production may also involve the aqueous decomposition of manmade silicates in the presence of CO2.
Cementos Argos and Summit Materials combine forces in the US
08 September 2023US: Cementos Argos, the cement company controlled by Colombia-based Grupo Argos, has entered into a definitive agreement with Summit Materials, under which they will combine their operations in the US. The platform will have a diversified portfolio and a nationwide geographic presence in complementary markets and high-growth urban areas. It will be present in 30 states.
Summit Materials currently operates across aggregate, cement, concrete, and other businesses in the building materials industry, with assets that include 217 aggregate mines, two cement plants along the Mississippi River and approximately 84 concrete plants.
Argos North America has four integrated cement plants, two grinding stations, 140 ready-mix concrete plants, and a distribution network of eight maritime ports and 10 inland terminals.
The agreement will see Cementos Argos receive approximately US$1.2bn and 54.7 million common shares in Summit Materials. This will make it the largest shareholder in Summit Materials, with a 31% stake. The combination will create a company with combined revenues in excess of US$4bn with approximately US$1bn in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). It will be the fourth-largest cement making portfolio in the US, with a capacity of 11.6Mt/yr. It will also be among the largest aggregates and concrete producers. The two companies expect the combination to unlock estimated annual synergies of at least US$100m, with significant realisation within two years.
Juan Esteban Calle, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cementos Argos, stated, "This combination reaffirms our commitment to growth in the US market while realising and optimising our intention to list the US business on the New York Stock Exchange as the most efficient way to unlock the fundamental value of Cementos Argos' assets and businesses in that country. Being an active player in a publicly-traded leading building materials platform, with a significant component of aggregates and cement on the world's most attractive market, is a pivotal step in the value generation strategy we launched months ago with the SPRINT program for the benefit of all our shareholders. Cementos Argos' participation in Summit Materials will continue to provide our shareholders with significant exposure to the US market."
Anne Noonan, President and CEO of Summit Materials, said, “Our combination with Argos USA marks a significant milestone as we execute against and accelerate our materials-led portfolio strategy. The transaction will extend our geographic reach into high growth markets, creating a leading cement position nationwide, and bring together two talent-rich organisations to innovate and deliver value-added solutions for our customers."
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to required regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Static first half of 2023 for US cement shipments
08 September 2023US: Data released by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that total shipments of Portland and blended cement, including imports, in the US and Puerto Rico came to an estimated 10.5Mt in June 2023, a slight decrease compared to June 2022. Of the total volume of blended cement reported in June 2023, 4.7Mt (95%) was estimated to be portland-limestone cement (PLC).
For the first six months of 2023, shipments reached an estimated 51.0Mt, a slight decrease from those for the same period in 2022. The leading producing states in June 2023 were, in descending order: Texas; Missouri; California; Michigan; and Florida. These states accounted for 40% of cement produced. The leading cement-consuming states, again in descending order, were: Texas; California; Florida; Ohio; and Illinois. They jointly received 37% of all June 2023 shipments.
Dragon to close Thomaston cement plant
07 September 2023US: Dragon Products Company, a subsidiary of Giant Cement, has announced that it will close its plant located in Thomaston, Maine. The facility, which has been operational for almost 100 years, and has been under Dragon's ownership since 2006, will undergo a gradual shutdown, beginning in December 2023.
Dragon said that the closure had been prompted by the persistent escalation of operating and logistical costs, exerting a negative impact on the Thomaston plant's viability. "Despite our best efforts to adapt and navigate through these challenging circumstances, we have determined that these actions are necessary for the long-term sustainability of our business,” explained Roberto Polit, Vice President of Operations. Phased lay-offs are scheduled to commence in December 2023, with the process anticipated to conclude by the beginning of 2025.
"We extend our sincere gratitude to all employees who have contributed significantly to our plant in Thomaston," added Polit. "Their hard work, dedication, and commitment have been invaluable to our operations. We are also grateful for the support and understanding shown by the local community throughout the years."
GCC orders pyroprocessing equipment from ThyssenKrupp Polysius for Odessa cement plant expansion
31 August 2023US: GCC has ordered pyroprocessing equipment from ThyssenKrupp Polysius for the expansion of its Odessa cement plant in Texas. The upgrade will more than double the plant’s capacity to 1.9Mt/yr, and reduce its CO2 emissions by 13%. Contractor H&M Construction says that the project will be the third on which it has collaborated on design and construction.
H&M Vice President Casey Rushing said “H&M is proud to have the opportunity to serve GCC as its design-builder on this great project. H&M has a very strong active presence in Texas and a very strong veteran self-perform team that has recently completed with Polysius a near identical pyroprocessing expansion in the Southeast US. We intend to improve on our successes from our previous pyroprocessing lines by executing this project for GCC with superior safety, quality and customer satisfaction.”
Vicem Ha Tien despatches cement to US
30 August 2023Vietnam: State-owned Vicem Ha Tien has despatched its first shipment of cement to the US. The Vietnam government says that Vicem Ha Tien will continue to further diversify its markets.
Domestic-focused cement producers like Vicem Ha Tien have experienced increased competition in the past year due to a slowdown in the Chinese market.
US: Buzzi Unicem USA has challenged penalties worth US$62,500 and denied that it failed in its duty to protect an employee who died after falling into the Mississippi River while working on a barge at the Natchez terminal in Mississippi in February 2023. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited multiple alleged safety violations by the Buzzi subsidiary in a report published in mid-August 2023.
Buzzi Unicem USA said “The company strongly contends that it did not violate the regulations set forth in the citations regarding personal floatation devices and guardrails, and therefore timely filed notice with OSHA that it is contesting the alleged violations contained in these citations (as well as certain aspects of the other citations).” It continued “The company objects to any characterisation by OSHA that the citations are a final determination that the company violated any OSHA regulation or caused the death of our valued employee.”
CRH boosts sales and earnings in first half of 2023
25 August 2023Ireland: CRH recorded US$16.6m in consolidated sales during the first half of 2023, up by 8% year-on-year from first-half 2022 levels. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled US$2.5bn, up by 14%. Throughout the half, CRH invested US$600m in acquisitions, and maintained a ‘robust’ pipeline of further opportunities. In its Americas business, cement sales were ‘robust.’ There, volumes rose by 5%, and prices rose by 17%, despite adverse weather in Texas and the Western US. Meanwhile, price rises successfully offset local volume declines in Europe, but failed to do so in the Philippines. CRH said that infrastructure projects in the Philippines are experiencing delays. In Ukraine, it said that construction activity increased in the first half of 2023, despite the continuing Russian invasion.
CEO Albert Manifold said "I am pleased to report a strong first half performance, reflecting the continued delivery of our differentiated strategy, further commercial progress across our businesses and good contributions from acquisitions. The strength of our balance sheet, together with our relentless focus on disciplined capital allocation, will enable us to invest in future growth and value creation opportunities for our business."
US: Peru-based UNACEM has entered into a definitive agreement with Martin Marietta Materials to acquire its Tehachapi cement plant in California. North Carolina-based Martin Marietta Materials reported the value of the deal as US$317m. The companies expect to close the deal in mid-late 2023.
Taiheiyo Cement subsidiary CalPortland previously terminated its deal to buy the Tehachapi plant, along with two local cement terminals, in April 2023. Japan-based Taiheiyo Cement said that the parties had been unable to obtain necessary approvals from the US Federal Trade Commission within a suitable timeframe.