Bosnia & Herzegovina: Hungary-based Talentis Group and Austria-based Asamer Baustoffe have signed a letter of intent giving the former exclusive negotiation rights in the sale of Lukavac Cement. The subsidiary of Asamer Baustoffe operates the 650,000t/yr integrated Lukavac cement plant in Tuzla Canton. It also controls the nearby Vijenac limestone mine.

Talentis Group already holds foreign assets in Croatia and Romania.

Kyrgyzstan: The Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision has requested an inspection of Sinji-Pirim's Sinji-Pirim cement plant in Osh Region's Aravan District. Central Asia News has reported that a video emerged on social media showing smoke rising from pipes at the plant on 6 July 2023.

Sinji-Pirim Cement has operated the Sinji-Pirim cement plant since March 2018.

US: Buzzi subsidiary Buzzi Unicem USA has published an update following a fire on the evening of 13 July 2023. The producer said that it first detected smoke from an alternative fuel (AF) store that housed wood chips and shredded tyres. Staff contacted the fire service, which brought the blaze under control without any injuries. The fire damaged the siding of the storehouse, as well as some electrical equipment. The producer said that the Stockertown cement plant did not lose electrical power, and that it is currently evaluating the extent of the damage.

Plant manager Rad Slavov said “I want to thank all the emergency responders for their quick response and professionalism in getting the fire under control swiftly.”

Spain: The Spanish cement association, Oficemen, recorded total national cement consumption of 7.54Mt throughout the first half of 2023. This corresponds to a 0.3% year-on-year rise from first-half 2022 levels. Meanwhile, first-half exports fell by 2.3% year-on-year to 2.84Mt.

The Cinco Días newspaper has reported that Oficemen general director Aniceto Zaragoza said “The first half of 2023 has closed with zero growth, in line with our forecasts at the beginning of the year. The confluence of three elections, which will end with the general elections on 23 July 2023, is an unusual circumstance, which has affected not only investments in public works but also at the business level." Zaragoza added that construction decision-making had 'already slowed down by itself due to the current international situation.'

Kenya: The government says that it has found a 'strategic investor' to buy a 30% stake in East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC). Business Daily News has reported that the buyer will acquire shares from the National Treasury, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Lafarge South Africa. The government holds 25% of EAPCC's shares through the Treasury, while the NSSF holds 27% and Lafarge South Africa 42%.

Lafarge South Africa denied that it plans to sell any of its shares in EAPCC. Chief executive officer Geoffrey Ndugwa said "We are not aware that we will be ceding shares.”

The government said that shareholders currently face the decision to sell EAPCC's land, seek a bailout from the Treasury or liquidate the company. It expects shareholders to reach a decision and establish a comprehensive plan for the company by 17 August 2023.

Ghana: Dangote Cement says that it has finished building a new grinding plant in Ghana. Tech Economy News has reported that the new facility has a capacity of 400,000t/yr.

Dangote Cement already operates the Tema cement terminal in Accra. Local press previously reported that Dangote Cement imported 1.5Mt of cement into Ghana in 2022.

Oman: Raysut Cement reported a net loss of US$4.52m during the first half of 2023. This corresponds to a drop of 67% year-on-year from US$13.8m in the previous first half. The Oman Daily Observer newspaper has reported that the producer attributed the loss reduction to its implementation of operational efficiency and cost reduction measures, as well as growth in sales volumes, during the latest half.

Indonesia: The Indonesian cement industry produced 29.3Mt of cement during the first half of 2023. This corresponds to a utilisation rate of 51% across an installed national capacity of 116Mt/yr. Throughout 2022, the industry produced 64Mt of cement and recorded a utilisation rate of 55%. Local capacity utilisation levels in the first half of 2023 were as low as 45% in some regions. Only Bali-Nusa Tenggara Region and Maluku-Papua Region did not suffer from overcapacity. National demand was 28Mt in the first half of 2023 and 63Mt throughout 2022. Meanwhile, first-half exports rose by 12% year-on-year in opening six months of 2023.

Indonesia Government News has reported that the Ministry of Industry has instigated a moratorium on investments in the construction of new cement capacity. Director general Ignatius Warsito said "These efforts can provide legal certainty for cement industry players in the country, as well as support competitiveness." Warsito noted the health of Indonesia's existing export markets for cement, but noted the uncertainty of the industry's coal supply and its price. Coal currently accounts for 40% of Indonesian cement's fuel consumption by value.

Ivory Coast: LafargeHolcim Côte d'Ivoire has invested a total US$677,000 in sustainability-enhancing upgrades to its 2Mt/yr Abidjan grinding plant since 2020. Agence Ivoirienne de Presse has reported that the producer has now implemented 80% of recommendations made by sustainability auditor Centre Ivoirien Antipollution (CIAPOL). Recommendations included the installation of dust capture systems.

General manager Rachis Yousry said "In 2022, LafargeHolcim received zero complaints from local residents for environmental degradation.” He added the producer was on track to realise net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.

Germany: Dyckerhoff has launched Dyckerhoff Weiss Blue Star, a pozzolanic white cement CEM IV/A (P) 42.5 R product. It was approved by the German cement association, the VDZ, in mid-June 2023 and is now being manufactured at the Amöneburg plant. The lower CO₂ credentials of the new product have been promoted as it releases around 15% less CO₂ compared to CEM I cements. It is also notable for being a blended white cement.