Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos recorded a 37% year-on-year rise in its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to US$1.10bn in 2021. Its sales rose by 33% to US$4.71bn, while its profit more than tripled to US$2.1bn. The group’s sales grew in all of its regions. Its cement volumes totalled 37.2Mt, up by 15% from 2020 levels. Its capital expenditure (CAPEX) investments grew by 30% year-on-year to US$317m. It commissioned a new production line at its Pecém grinding plant in Brazil and continued to work on an upgrade to Cementos Artigas’ Sayago grinding plant in Uruguay, scheduled for completion in 2022. It also completed its acquisition of Spain-based Cementos Balboa.

Cement operations, logistics and adjacent businesses director Osvaldo Ayres Filho, who was serving as group CFO during 2021, said “We had a record financial performance in 2021, despite the challenging environment due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic and global inflationary pressure.” He added that the producer also made ‘significant strategic moves.’

Pakistan: Lucky Cement plans to install a 34MW solar power plant at its Pezu power plant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Balochistan Times newspaper has reported that the 48GWh/yr installation will be equipped with a 5.59MWh Reflex energy storage system. Both the power plant and energy system will be the country’s largest when commissioned. Fossil fuel generation will remain online, but be shut down in the daytime, saving 26,600t/yr of CO₂ emissions.

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.

India: Jaiprakash Associates has defaulted on its scheduled repayments of loans worth US$381m. Dion News Service has reported that the debt consists of US$203m-worth of overdue payments and a further US$178m in principal. The group’s total indebtedness is reportedly US$3.63bn. Its lenders include
HDFC Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank of India and over 30 other institutions.

US: Summit Materials subsidiary Continental Cement’s 1.1Mt/yr Davenport, Iowa, cement plant has become the latest US cement plant to transition to 100% Portland limestone cement (PLC) production.

Summit Materials executive vice president Tom Beck said "Our transition to PLC at Davenport aligns with the Portland Cement Association (PCA)'s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality.” He continued “It is critical that the industry comes together and acts now to create sustainable building solutions for decades to come. The US cement and concrete industries can collectively address climate change, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate barriers that are restricting environmental progress through the continued adoption of product and manufacturing innovations."

US: Holcim has announced the rebranding of its US-based LafargeHolcim US subsidiary to Holcim US. The name change is the first in any region since parent company LafargeHolcim became Holcim in July 2021. The producer says that this regional rebrand marks a ‘significant milestone’ towards establishing a shared purpose and vision across its global operations.

Holcim will continue to work towards becoming the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions through building progress for people and the planet.

India: ACC has launched its new Concrete Direct app for booking and live tracking concrete deliveries. The producer says that the app reduces operational follow-up calls.

Managing director and CEO Sridhar Balakrishnan said “At ACC, we recognise the need to improve and lead through digitalisation. We are happy to launch Concrete Direct, a premium digital tool that saves time and money for our customers. With such innovations, we want to enhance customer experience and build a strong ecosystem of partners to support them.”

Peru: Unacem’s sales were US$655m in 2021, up by 43% year-on-year from US$458m in 2020. It sold US$598m-worth of cement, up by 41% year-on-year from US$425m-worth, and exported US$30.3m of clinker, up by 35% year-on-year from US$22.5m-worth.

The producer said “2020 and 2021 have been years of great challenges for the world and our country because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, the company implemented a plan of measures that has allowed it to cope with this crisis, having as a fundamental pillar ensuring the safety and health of its employees, the sustainability of the company and all its shareholders. Likewise, the Peruvian government continues to take the necessary actions to mitigate the effects of the third wave of Covid-19 as well as to safeguard the payment chain of companies.”

India: RCCPL, a subsidiary of Birla Corporation, has commenced cement despatches from its 2.7M/yr Mukutban cement plant in Maharashtra. The plant has a further grinding capacity of 1.2Mt/yr and a 40MW captive power plant. Switzerland-based ABB previously delivered electrification and automation systems to the site of the new plant in June 2020.

Canada: Lafarge Canada has converted its Richmond, British Colombia, cement plant to 100% OneCem Portland limestone cement (PLC) production. OneCem cement’s CO₂ emissions per tonne are 13% below the Canadian PLC average. The Richmond plant has supplied OneCem cement to the Western Canada and US Pacific Northwest customers since 2011. Since that time, it has eliminated 1.18Mt of CO₂ emissions, according to the producer.

President and CEO Brad Kohl said "Collaborating with local government and stakeholders was key to ensuring OneCem PLC’s uptake in the market, and conversion away from traditional high-intensity cement products. As industry leaders, we want to facilitate access to low carbon cements across Canada, and starting with Richmond is a big step towards making that happen."