Displaying items by tag: Import

Iran: Mehdi Dosti, the governor of Hormozgan Province, says that a new 3000t/day cement plant will be built in the region. Dosti met with the head of Cement Investment Holding to discuss the project, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The project is intended to increase cement production and create jobs in the province. Currently, Hormozgan Province has a 6000t/day cement plant at the Port of Khamir but cement is also imported into the region.

Zimbabwe: Kelibone Masiyane, the managing director of PPC Zimbabwe, has complained about the negative effects rising imports of cement could have upon the local cement industry. In an interview with Business Weekly he said that imports had doubled to 16% over the last year and that this is restricting PPC’s efforts to reach its desired capacity utilisation levels. PPC and other producers have lobbied the government to slow down imports. PPC operates two integrated plants in the country with a combined production capacity of 0.7Mt/yr. Selected retailers interviewed separately reported that they had experienced difficulty obtaining cement from PPC recently.

Namibia: Immigration authorities have apprehended eight Chinese employees of Whale Rock Cement at the company’s Otjiwarongo grinding plant who failed to produce working permits during an inspection. Namibian Press Agency News has reported that seven of the workers have been in Namibia since mid-2021, while the eighth arrived in March 2022.

South Korea: Seven cement producers have agreed to produce 3.77Mt of cement in the second quarter of 2022, up by 36% quarter-on-quarter from first-quarter 2022 levels, to alleviate a shortage. 380,000t of cement which would previously have been exported will now supply the domestic market instead. The Yonhap News Agency has reported that bituminous coal supply issues have hampered the domestic cement industry's ability to increase its production in line with demand growth. In the first quarter of 2022, South Korea's coal imports consisted of 54% Russian coal and 46% Australian coal, compared to 75% Russian and 25% Australian coal in 2021.

The government plans to invest US$764m between 2023 and 2030 in improving the sustainability of South Korean cement production, including moving it away from reliance on coal through increased alternative fuel use.

Russia: The government is ‘working to establish import flows’ of building materials from Uzbekistan. Russian media sources have reported that the construction industry is also hoping to expand import partnerships with China, India, Iran and Turkey. Russian cement production reportedly continues to adequately serve the national demand for cement.

Cambodia: Conch International Holding (HK) subsidiary Conch KT Cement has completed the feasibility study for its upcoming US$250m Kampong Speu cement plant at Monorom in Horng Samnan Commune. The Phnom Penh Post newspaper has reported that the company is collaborating with stakeholders to develop a ‘masterplan’ to manage all potential impacts revealed in the feasibility study. The plant is Conch KT Cement’s second in the country, with the help of which it hopes to secure a reliable domestic cement supply for Cambodians, making use of the kingdom’s abundant raw materials.

In the first 10 months of 2021, Cambodia imported US$40m-worth of cement, down by 33% year-on-year from US$59m in 2020.

South Africa: PPC expects its group cement sales volumes to increase by 4 - 8% year-on-year for the financial year to 31 March 2022 due to strong performance in Zimbabwe and Rwanda. In an operational update it said that sales revenue is also expected to rise by 11 – 15%. However, sales volumes and sales revenue growth was reported as slower in South Africa and Botswana due to strong demand due to home improvement projects during the previous period.

The cement producer noted that it had yet to experience any ‘meaningful uplift’ in cement sales following the government’s decision to only use locally produced on infrastructure projects. It said that cement sales in coastal regions of South Africa were behind those in the previous reporting year. It said that cement imports, mainly from Vietnam, increased by 11% and accounted for approximately 10% of the local market.

Oman: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion has held a meeting with cement companies, importers, distributors and related government departments to discuss cement shortages in some regions of the country. One local plant has suspended production due to high input costs, according to the Oman Daily Observer newspaper. However, Oman Cement Company says it is prepared to boost its production by 10% to meet local demand. Following the meeting the ministry has taken several steps to ensure the availability of cement across the country and maintain prices. These include increasing the production output at some cement plants and increasing imports.

El Salvador: Cementos Fortaleza is establishing a new 0.3Mt/yr cement plant at Acajutla in Sonsonate Department. The Diario El Mundo newspaper has reported that the subsidiary of Grupo Regalado and Mexico-based Elementia plans to commission the plant in eatly 2023. The company will invest US$40m in its construction. The plant will produce its cement from 20% El Salvadorean-produced raw materials and will primarily serve local consumption, with the possibility of also exporting some cement.

Grupo Regalado representative Marcos Regalado Nottebohm said “It is challenging to invest in a project of such magnitude. This has been a natural step between two large business groups of great renown.”

New Zealand: Holcim Australia and New Zealand plans to establish a new low carbon cement import and distribution facility next to its existing cement terminal at Ports of Auckland. The company says that the facility will have the capacity to replace 100,000t/yr of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) used in New Zealand. In 2021, the country consumed 1.6Mt of cement, generating 1.3Mt of CO₂ emissions.

CEO George Agriogiannis said “I’m pleased Holcim Australia and New Zealand is progressing to the building phase of a facility that will import and distribute low carbon cement replacement products. Once operational, the site will enable the reduction of carbon emissions via a cement replacement which can be used for applications such as infrastructure, commercial and residential projects.” He concluded “This initiative is a positive step toward the New Zealand government’s Zero Carbon ambitions and Holcim’s Net Zero climate pledge.”