25 November 2019

US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has releases a two-year forecast of moderate growth in cement consumption between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021. It projected growth of 1.7% in 2020, slowing slightly to 1.4% in 2021, corresponding to 2.1% and 1.7% GDP growth annually. Speaking at the 38th International Cement Seminar in Atlanta, PCA senior vice president and chief economist Ed Sullivan projected consumption growth of 1.6% - 2.3% in 2019 against GDP growth of 2.4% over the period, with consumption bolstered by the 2018 Federal Budget, which allowed for US$20bn in infrastructure investments in 2018 and 2019. He noted growing uncertainty (21% in 2019) with the expiry of the ‘pent-up demand zip that invigorates the initial stages of economic recovery long past.’

Rising house prices and mild inflation signify the continuation of the US economy’s longest expansion post-World War Two, with 161,000 net new jobs generated so far in 2019. With a forecasted population increase of 60m by 2040, US cement producers appears still have their work cut out in keeping up with demand.

Turkmenistan: Iron ore reserves of between 70Mt and 75Mt of around 20% iron recently discovered in the Turkmenbeshi district of western Turkmenistan could replace other ingredients in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) clinker production in the region, resulting in savings of US$10m/yr for producers. Trend News has reported that the deposits, located near Turkmencement’s 1.3Mt/yr integrated Kelete plant and Polimeks’ 1.0Mt/yr integrated Jebel plant, could sustain production for a century.

Uzbekistan: Construction has begun at Russia’s Eurocement’s 2.0Mt/yr integrated Ankhangarancement plant in the Tashkent region of a facility to house the limestone and clay used in cement production. When the installation is operational, the materials will be relayed from it to the plant’s four wet lines by a conveyor belt and 1400t/hr stacker, whence the mixture is conveyed by 600t/hr-capacity truck to one of the vertical roller mills.

US: The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) has honoured Cemex USA’s ‘exemplary use of environmental controls and systems’ at two quarries with its Environmental Excellence Gold Award. Its Center Hill quarry in Florida won a Community Relations Gold Award. Ten further aggregates operations won Silver or Bronze Awards in the Environmental Excellence or Community Relations categories. “We take pride in stewardship and serving as good neighbours in communities in which we operate and as examples others can emulate,” said Jaime Muguiro, Cemex USA president.

Uganda: LafargeHolcim subsidiary Hima Cement has revealed its new dark-coloured Supaset, which it says provides a higher early strength (32.5R) with lower shrinkage than previous Supaset products, ‘promoting faster working, enhanced productivity and cost optimisation,’ according to Hima Cement marketing director Allan Ssemakula. “We shall see our customers enjoying the fast, more consistent, cost effective results synonymous with using Supaset,” he added.