China: Authorities in Hebei Province have revealed a plan to transfer excess capacity from its heavy industries, including cement, abroad by 2023. Hebei intends to move 5Mt of cement production overseas by 2017 and 30Mt by 2023. The initiative also covers excess production in the steel and glass industries.
Chinese cement, steel and glass producers are struggling, with sluggish growth in the world's second-largest economy crippling demand for their products. The local government will encourage cement producers to establish subsidiaries or joint ventures in regions like Africa, Southeast Asia, South America and Central and East Europe to meet local demand.
Hebei is a major source of industrial pollutants blamed for the smog that often spreads to neighbouring regions like Beijing. The smog has prompted the authorities to rethink and change the growth model and to take more stringent measures to fight pollution.
