US: Colombia-based Cementos Argos, Summit Materials’ largest shareholder, has sold its 31% stake in the company to Quikrete Holdings. The price of US$52.50 per share represents a rise by 38% compared to when Cementos Argos acquired the shares in 2023 through the combination of its US assets with Summit Materials. The sale, valued at US$11.5bn for 100% of the company’s shares, will reportedly enable Cementos Argos to pursue new cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates opportunities in the US market. Supply agreements, including exports from Cartagena to the US, will continue. Through the deal, Quikrete will acquire 100% of Summit Materials’ shares, and the company will become a privately held subsidiary of Quikrete.

US: Titan Cement subsidiary Titan America has closed its initial public offering (IPO) of 24 million common shares at US$16 per share. The producer sold 9 million new shares, while Titan Cement sold 15 million existing shares.

Titan America received US$137m in net proceeds, to be used for capital expenditure and investments in technology as well as pursuing acquisitions. Titan Cement received US$228m. Titan Cement retains an 87% stake in Titan America with 160 million shares.

Argentina: Cement despatches rose by 9% year-on-year to 0.84Mt in January 2025, the Association of Portland Cement Manufacturers (AFCP) has reported. This marks the first increase following 21 consecutive months of decline. The country recorded its lowest volume of cement despatches in 15 years in 2024 due to government capital expenditure cuts. In December 2024, despatches fell by 5% year-on-year, following 12 months of declines exceeding 40%.

Myanmar: The government will allow coal imports for cement plants from February 2025 in order to increase production, according to local news reports. Cement plants which need coal can apply for an import licence. The country's 16 private and three state-run cement plants produce less than 8Mt/yr, while national consumption exceeds 10Mt/yr, requiring cement plants to operate at full capacity.

Italy: Buzzi has released its preliminary financial results for the 2024 financial year. It recorded cement sales of 26.3Mt in 2024, in line with 2023’s figures. Consolidated net sales also remained stable at €4.31bn. Recurring earnings by interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) is expected to rise to €1.27bn.

The company reports that growth remained steady in the US and China, while in Europe, the economy continued to weaken, hampered by ‘sluggish’ domestic consumption and demand. It stated that it remains ‘highly exposed’ to risks associated with escalating geopolitical tensions and potential tightening of US trade policies.

In its home country of Italy, economic activity was reported to have remained weak in the fourth quarter of 2024 after stagnating during the summer months, due to the subdued performance of the manufacturing sector and a slowdown in services.

As for the company’s outlook, it stated ‘Despite an improving trend in the latter part of the year, 2024 showed some weakness in demand across most of the countries where we operate, except for Poland and the Czech Republic, although offset by a favourable development of selling prices. The low production levels negatively impacted operating leverage in Central Europe. The exit from Ukraine and the consolidation of Brazil led to a net positive impact on consolidated results. Therefore, based on preliminary available data, we anticipate that operating results will remain broadly in line with the previous year.”

Türkiye: Cement producer Karcimsa Cement said that it will invest US$30m in a 1Mt/yr clinker and granulated slag grinding facility in Kayseri.

The plant will produce ‘green’ cement with low carbon emissions, according to chair of Karcimsa, Soner Ozbey.

Back in March 2024, Türkiye imposed restrictions on cement to expand the use of low-carbon cement in public procurement contracts from 2025.

"The clinker/cement ratio in the cement to be used in public investments will be a maximum of 0.80 as of 2025 and this ratio will decrease to 0.75 by 2030," Karcimsa said.

The company will reportedly procure slag from Kardemir to be used in production.

Karcimsa is a joint venture between Turkish steel firm Kardemir and concrete producer Beycim Beton Sanayi.

Italy: Alpacem Group has completed the acquisition of the Fanna cement plant in Pordenone and several concrete plants in the region, following regulatory approval on 1 February 2025. Over 80 employees will join the company’s workforce and Fanna will become the group’s third fully-integrated plant alongside its plants in Wietersdorf, Austria and Anhovo, Slovenia.

The Fanna plant has a clinker capacity of 0.66Mt/yr and sources raw materials from three nearby quarries.

Bernhard Auer, Alpacem’s managing director, said “The integration of the Fanna cement plant and the concrete mixing plants strengthens our presence in Italy and in the entire Alpe-Adria region, and enables us to expand our business activities in the market and grow as the Alpacem Group.”

Canada: Lithium Universe has signed a memorandum of understanding with Lafarge Canada for the supply of aluminosilicate product (ACSR) from its Bécancour lithium refinery for use in Lafarge Canada’s cement.

The parties will work towards a definitive supply agreement, which would see Lafarge sourcing all ACSR from the facility in a bid to reduce waste and support a circular economy.

Lithium Universe chair Iggy Tan said “This is great news for Lithium Universe as we partner with Lafarge Canada to enhance the North American battery materials supply chain and promote sustainable innovation in Canada’s cement industry. This collaboration will not only advance our focus on building Bécancour Lithium Refinery’s secondary product supply chain but also strengthen local supply chains, foster a more circular economy in Québec, and contribute to greener construction materials.”

Mexico: Cemex has embarked upon a cost cutting exercise following a drop of sales volumes in 2024. Sales volumes of cement, ready-mixed concrete (RMX) and aggregates all fell in 2024. This in turn reduced sales revenue, despite higher prices and earnings. The group’s sales volumes of cement decreased by 2% year-on-year to 44.3Mt in 2024 from 45.2Mt in 2023. RMX sales volumes dropped by 6% to 44Mm³ from 46.8Mm³. Sales revenue and operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dipped by 2% to US$16.2Bn and by 2% to US$3.08Bn respectively.

Sales and earnings rose on a like-for-like basis in Mexico and South, Central America and the Caribbean but fell elsewhere. In Mexico the group noted a strong first half of 2024 followed by a poor second half. In the US it reported a number of ‘extreme’ weather events. In Europe, Middle East, and Africa it said a recovery trend in earnings was observed in the second half of the year.

In response the company has launched ‘Project Cutting Edge,’ a three-year, US$350m saving programme intended to streamline operations, improve efficiency and further use of digital technology throughout the business. The initiative is anticipated to deliver US$150m in incremental EBITDA in 2025 and expected to reach a run-rate of US$350m by 2027.

Fernando A González, CEO of Cemex, said “With the recovery of our investment grade ratings, improved free cash flow generation and the execution of US$2.2bn in asset divestments, we can now pursue more aggressively our capital allocation priorities of growth through small to medium-sized acquisitions, primarily in the US, additional deleveraging, and building further on our shareholder return programs.”

US: Titan Group expects to generate US$365m from the initial public offering (IPO) of its subsidiary Titan America. The latter company has priced its IPO of 24 million common shares at US$16/share. The IPO is expected to close on 10 February 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

Titan America expects to receive net proceeds of approximately US$137m from the IPO. Some of these funds will be used to support investments in technologies, the company’s growth strategy and acquisitions. Parent company Titan Cement International expects to generate US$228m. Following completion, Titan Cement will retain a 87% share of Titan America.