US: Prometheus Materials has been awarded ASTM C129 certification for non-loadbearing concrete masonry units (CMU) and ASTM C90 for loadbearing CMUs for its bio-cement product. The company is commercialising a process to produce cement and concrete using microalgae.

Loren Burnett, the chief executive officer of Prometheus Materials, said “We are thrilled to have achieved these two foundational certifications as we proceed in full-force with our goal of decarbonising construction.” He added, “Prometheus Materials’ product is poised to change the future of construction, converting one of the most carbon-polluting industries to a low-carbon – and one day net-zero carbon – reality.”

Find out more about Prometheus Materials in the October 2022 issue of Global Cement MagazinePrometheus Materials in the October 2022 issue of Global Cement Magazine

Germany: Beumer Group is preparing to exhibit at the Solids Dortmund trade fair on 29 – 30 March 2023. The supplier will be showcasing its equipment for conveying, loading, palletising and packaging various bulk materials for the cement, building materials and chemical industries. Solids Dortmund covers equipment for granules, powder and bulk solids technologies.

India: Nuvoco Vistas recorded consolidated sales of US$315m during the third quarter of its 2023 financial year. This corresponds to a rise of 20% year-on-year from US$262m during the third quarter of the 2022 financial year. The producer's earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 13% year-on-year to US$33m from US$29.2m. As a result, the company was able to overcome increased costs to reduce its net loss by 12% to US$9.1m.

India: UltraTech Cement has commissioned a new 1.5Mt/yr grinding unit at its Jharsuguda grinding plant in Odisha. The unit more than doubles the plant's capacity to 2.5Mt/yr. The Hindu BusinessLine News has reported that UltraTech Cement now has a production capacity of 4.1Mt/yr in Odisha. The Eastern Indian state thus hosts 3.3% of the producer's total capacity of 123Mt/yr.

US: Holcim has signed an agreement with Duro-Last to acquire the roofing systems producer for US$1.29bn. Reuters has reported that the acquisition will be Holcim's largest for all of 2022 and 2023 so far. Once the parties complete the transaction, Duro-Last's business will join Holcim's products and systems division. Holcim expects the deal to yield synergies of US$60m/yr, primarily through a reduction in the cost of materials.

Holcim expects its products and systems division to contribute a majority of its profit in North America once increased investment under the US government's Inflation Reduction Act begins to take effect. In 2022, the division accounted for 40% of regional profit. The group is committed to a global target of 30% of sales being attributable to the products and systems division by 2025, compared to 19% of sales in 2022.

US: US cement companies produced 95Mt of cement in 2022, up by 2.2% year-on-year from 93Mt in 2021, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The country exported 900,000t of cement and clinker, down by 4.3% from 940,000t. The USGS recorded a 9.1% leap in apparent national consumption, to 120Mt from 110Mt. Cement imports helped to close the gap, rising by 20% year-on-year to 24Mt from 19.9Mt.

Among the US's main trade partners for cement imports, cement production fluctuated in 2022. Turkish cement production rose by 3.7% year-on-year to 85Mt, Mexican cement production fell by 3.8% year-on-year to 50Mt and Vietnamese cement production rose by 9.1% year-on-year to 120Mt. Globally, the USGS estimated a year-on-year cement production decline of 6.8% to 4.1Bnt.

Nigeria: GE Gas Power expects to commission a new 50MW power plant at a Dangote Cement site in early 2023. The supplier said that the new power plant will provide energy for Dangote Cement's cement production and refinery operations.

The This Day newspaper has reported that the new plant is part of a total 500MW-worth of new power infrastructure which GE Gas Power expects to commission in Nigeria before July 2023.

India: JK Cement's consolidated sales were US$839m during the first nine months of the 2023 financial year, up by 23% year-on-year from US$682m during the corresponding period of the 2022 financial year. The producer's costs grew across all areas of expenditure, resulting in a net profit for the period of US$37.4m, down by 36% year-on-year.

JK Cement received approval for the issuance of up to US$12.1m in redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs) on private placement basis on 6 February 2023.

India: The state government of Himachal Pradesh says that it will take 'legal action' against Adani Group should it fail to reopen its Darlaghat and Gagal cement plants. The Times of India newspaper has reported that measures may include cancellation of the cement producer's relevant land leases. Out-of-work truck drivers agreed to cancel a state-wide road blockade in protest against the closures after the government promised a 'resolution' on 4 February 2022. It now plans to hold talks with Adani Group, in which it will relay truck drivers' offer of an 11% reduction in per-kilometre freight rates to US$0.12/t from US$0.14/t.

Himachal Pradesh industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said that the state government is empowered to take drastic measures in defence of Himachali people's interests.

Geological Survey of India (GSI) officials are reportedly investigating alleged illegal mining at the sites of the Darlaghat and Gagal cement plants.

India: Birla Corporation recorded nine-month consolidated sales of US$751m so far in the 2023 financial year, up by 20% year-on-year from US$628m in the first nine months of the 2022 financial year. The company made a net loss of US$5.37m however, compared to a net profit of US$34.7m during the first nine months of the 2022 financial year.

Birla Corporation did not publish a figure for fuel and electricity costs, however its raw materials costs rose by 25% year-on-year to US$111m, while its 'other expenses' more than doubled to US$565m.