China: CNBM’s sales revenue grew by 7% year-on-year to US$43.1bn in 2021 from US$40.1bn. Its sales volumes of cement and clinker fell by 3% to 332Mt and 13% to 40.4Mt respectively. Concrete sales volumes increased slightly to 112Mm³. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 7% to US$8.11bn from US$7.6bn. The group increased its average cement prices by 10% in 2021. However, the group’s sales revenue from its engineering division fell by 29% to US$421m from US$590m, although its earnings recovered significantly. The group blamed this on “great uncertainty” in overseas markets due to the coronavirus pandemic although it said that producer’s willingness to invest was starting to recover.

Zhou Yuxian, chair of CNBM, said “The year 2021 was an extraordinary and tough year. In the face of complex environment abroad and numerous risks and challenges, China adhered to the general keynote of seeking progress in a stable manner, coordinating prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic and the development of economy and society, continuing the national economic recovery, taking a new step in building a new development pattern and achieving a good start of the 14th Five-Year Plan.”

Germany: ThyssenKrupp Uhde, Holcim and the Technische Universität Berlin have started a joint project to investigate the use of a novel amine scrubbing technology for carbon capture. The goal is to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions from existing cement plants and at the same time utilise the captured CO₂ for other applications. This includes the development of new mass transfer process equipment that is more efficient and resilient to contaminations. The project is being funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

The equipment is being tested using exhaust gas at Holcim’s Beckum plant. Various possibilities for using the captured CO₂ are also being examined, such as manufacturing methanol or sustainable fuels. The aim is develop a technology that can be retrofitted at existing cement plants.

Ralph Kleinschmidt, head of technology, innovation and sustainability at ThyssenKrupp Uhde said, "Amine scrubbing is already commonly used to recover CO₂ from process gases or exhaust gases. Now, we are developing the technology further and optimising it for the cement industry. Additional applications for capturing CO₂ direct at source, such as in waste incineration plants, are also possible."Arne Stecher, head of decarbonisation at Holcim Germany added that the company is testing different processes to find the best carbon capture technology.

Japan: Taiheiyo Cement has released its interim carbon neutral goals to 2030. The group intends to reduce its CO₂ emission intensity across the entire supply chain by 20% or more compared to 2000. Total domestic CO₂ emissions should be decreased by at least 40% compared to 2000. The company intends to invest US$820m towards these goals. Ultimately the cement producer wants to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Russia: Switzerland-based Holcim has announced its upcoming exit from the Russian cement market in line with its corporate value ‘to operate in the most responsible manner.’ The Global Cement Directory 2022 records a total of four Holcim cement plants in the country, commanding a capacity of 9.2Mt/yr.

Holcim’s board of directors thanked all employees currently mobilising to provide shelter, essential goods and medical supplies and other support to Ukrainians.

The group had previously suspended new capital investments into the market on 15 March 2022.

Italy: Buzzi Unicem’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 1.8% year-on-year in 2021 to Euro795m. Despite this, its net profit for the year declined by 3.2% year-on-year to Euro542m.

In 2022, Buzzi Unicem forecasts a 10% full-year EBITDA decline due to the impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

India: Shree Cement has commenced commercial production of clinker with the newly commissioned Kiln 3 of its Raipur cement plant in Chhattisgarh. The kiln has a production capacity of 4Mt/yr.

US: The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) has approved the use of Portland limestone cement (PLC) in its projects. The California Nevada Cement Association (CNCA) says that the move has the potential to eliminate 25,500t/yr of CO₂ emissions.

The CNCA plans to achieve cement and concrete carbon neutrality by 2045 through three priority actions. These are investment in promising and critical long-term technologies (crucially carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies), increased alternative fuel (AF) substitution and the acceptance of PLC for CalTrans projects. Thus, the latest CalTrans decision marks the establishment of one pillar of the CNCA’s ambitious plan for net zero.

Australia: James Hardie Industries says that it has acquired land in Melbourne, Victoria, on which it plans to establish a fibre cement board plant.

Interim CEO Harold Wiens said "Adding a manufacturing site in the State of Victoria enables James Hardie to continue to meet the strong demand for our high-value building solutions in the Asia Pacific region. As we continue our strategic focus on marketing directly to the homeowner and commercialising market-led innovations, this site will help us not only meet this demand but enable the manufacturing of new innovations and existing high-value products."

Mexico: Cemex has published its 2021 Integrated Report. Under the report’s Climate Action section, Cemex recorded a 4.7% year-on-year decrease in its CO₂ emissions per tonne of cementitious material. Alternative fuel (AF) substitution rose to 29%, while its products’ average clinker factor fell to 75%. It was the first company to complete a global roll-out of its reduced-CO₂ cement and concrete range (Vertua). It established Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)-verified well below 2°C 2030 climate action goals and joined the UN’s Race to Zero and the Business Ambition for 1.5°C coalition. It also became a founding member of the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition for zero-carbon economic development.

The year also brought major Sustainability and Circular Economy milestones, including managing 57 times the volume of waste it sent to landfill, positively impacting 25m lives through its Social Impact Strategy and processing 61% of global sales through its Cemex Go digital sales platform. For the second consecutive year, its Net Promotor Score was 68, ‘substantially above’ the construction and engineering industry average.

China: Anhui Conch recorded a 4.7% year-on-year decline in its consolidated sales to US$26.4bn in 2021 from US$27.7bn in 2020. Its net profit was US$5.23bn, down by 5.3% from US$5.52bn. Anhui Conch attributed the decline to decreased cement demand. Its fuel and power costs increased by 30% in 2021. The producer forecast continued low market demand and high raw material and energy costs for the duration of 2022.

During the reporting period the group’s cement sales volumes fell by 9.8% to 409Mt. It increased its clinker, cement and concrete production capacities by 7.2Mt to 269Mt/yr, by 14.3Mt to 384Mt/yr and 10.5Mm³ to 14.7Mm³. It also installed photovoltaic power plants with a capacity of 200MW. By region, it said that market demand remained stable in East, Central and South China, although sales volumes declined slightly. However, it noted insufficient market demand in West China. The group’s export sales volumes fell by 43% but volumes and sales by its international subsidiaries grew by 7.5% and 5.3% respectively.