Kenya: National Cement Company expects to commission its upcoming West Pokot clinker plant in September 2023. The cement company says that the plant will produce clinker for export to neighbouring countries in Central and East Africa. A previous survey by the Kerio Valley Development Authority proved reliable reserves of 1.2Mt/yr of limestone in the area. When commissioned, National Cement Company expects the new plant to generate 2000 direct jobs.

Australia: Adbri reported a full-year rise in sales of 8.5% year-on-year to US$1.15bn in 2022 from US$1.06bn in 2021. Its earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) fell to US$106m, down by 10% from US$118m. The producer said that its cement sales rose by 6.3% year-on-year. Demand remained ‘solid’ in Western Australia, while sales dropped in Southern Australia, partly due to wet weather and the loss of an exclusive supply contract. Adbri noted that “The backlog of residential construction works, attributed to the shortage of trades and wet weather in 2022, will continue to underpin good order books in 2023.”

The group said “The past year has been one of the most challenging for the company in its long history. Our results were delivered against the backdrop of a difficult macroeconomic environment, which included the global economic instability resulting in inflationary pressures and wet weather events across Australia. The company also underwent a substantial leadership transition in the latter part of the year, with the former managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer stepping down from active duties as the company accelerates its transformational agenda.”

In 2022, Adbri achieved a 12% reduction in operational CO₂ emissions compared to 2019. Chief executive officer Mark Irwin called on the national government and state governments to embed CO₂ emissions reduction targets in legislation, and on the former to implement a carbon border adjustment mechanism on imported cement. Irwin noted that failure to implement such measures may lead lower-emitting plants such as the Birkenhead, South Australia, cement plant to transition to grinding imported clinker or consider closure.

Peru: The Peruvian National Institute for the Defence of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (Indecopi) has fined Yura and fellow Grupo Gloria subsidiary, transport company Racionalización Empresarial (Raciemsa), US$15.7m for abuse of their dominant position. Local press has reported that the companies conducted anti-competitive practices in Arequipa, Cusco, Moquegua, Puno and Tacna, where Yura holds an over 90% market share, between October 2014 and April 2019. Alleged practices included threatening to restrict the supply of Yura cement to enforce exclusive supply contracts and restricting access to Yura cement plants for trucks transporting cement from other producers.

Philippines: Knauf Gypsum Philippines has petitioned the Philippines Tariff Commission to reduce the import duty on imports of Omani gypsum to 0% of value. Currently, Oman’s gypsum enjoys a most favoured nation (MFN) reduced tariff rate of 3%. The Oman Daily Observer newspaper has reported that high gypsum wallboard demand has created short supply of gypsum in the Philippines, according to Knauf Gypsum Philippines. Beside the company’s wallboard operations, the raw material is also critical to cement production in the country.

The Philippines receives a minor share of Oman’s 8.74Mt/yr of natural gypsum exports. The Southeast Asian country has a housing backlog of 6m units.

UK: Langley Holdings, owner of Claudius Peters, recorded consolidated sales of Euro1.17bn during 2022, up by 40% year-on-year from Euro815m in 2021. The group ended the year with an order backlog worth Euro900m. Its Other Industrials division, which includes Germany-based Claudius Peters, recorded sales of Euro277m, up by 11% from Euro250m. Langley Holdings said that, due to the length of its lead times, Claudius Peters’ profitability was especially impacted by costs rises in its delivery on existing contracts in 2022.

Chair Anthony Langley said “Hopefully management will make progress with tangible improvements to the plant machinery business: restructuring is not the preferred option, but, either way, I do expect a better result this year.”

Vietnam: Xuan Thien Group has secured permission for the construction of a US$1.25bn, 10Mt/yr cement plant in Hoa Binh Province. Việt Nam News has reported that the plant will occupy a 48 hectare site in Lac Thuy District. Construction will also involve the clearance of 48 hectare of jungle. Xuan Thien Group is currently also engaged in the construction of a lime plant and solar panel assembly plant in the district.

Nigeria: Dangote Cement recorded sales of US$3.49bn in 2022, up by 17% year-on-year from US$3.05bn in 2021. The producer's cement sales volumes fell by 5.1% year-on-year to 27.8Mt from 29.3Mt. Its selling and distribution costs rose by over 50% to US$643m, yet profit after tax also rose, by 4.9% to US$833m.

The Premium Times newspaper has reported that the producer invested US$543m in is subsidiaries throughout the year. The group said that most of this investment took place outside of Nigeria.

Nigeria: BUA Cement's gross earnings rose by 31% year-on-year to US$1.29bn in 2022 from US$981m in 2021. Meanwhile, the producer's net profit rose by 2.2% year-on-year to US$193m. The group said that increased bagged cement sales volumes offset the impacts of inflation and currency effects. BUA Cement's full-year finance costs were US$23m, up by a factor of six year-on-year.

Spain: Cementos Molins' sales were Euro1.27bn in 2022, up by 31% year-on-year from 2021 levels. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were Euro276m, up by 14% over the same comparison period. The producer noted significant earnings contributions from its South American and Asian business, as well as from new acquisitions during the year. Its implementation of its operational efficiency plan and price rises successfully offset inflationary pressures. Throughout the year, the group's debt dropped by 18% to Euro145m.

Cementos Molins CEO Julio Rodríguez said "We have achieved record sales and profits in a very complex year with a constantly changing environment; despite this, once again we have been able to confirm the strength of our business model by achieving the objectives of the strategic plan 2020-2023 one year ahead. I would like to highlight that these results are the consequence of the contribution and talent of the Cementos Molins team worldwide and imply a boost of energy to continue working on the priority objective: our 2030 Sustainability Roadmap.”

Ireland: CRH expects to record increased earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) and profit before tax in its 2022 results. The producer has predicted an EBITDA of US$5.5bn, up by 10% year-on-year from US$5bn in 2021. This would entail a 0.8% year-on-year decline in its fourth-quarter EBITDA in the year. The producer also expects its profit after tax to rise by comparison to its 2021 figure of US$3.1bn.

CRH said that its projection “captures the impact of bad weather, higher energy costs in Europe, the risk of destocking in the building products chain and all this against tough comparisons from 2021.”