06 August 2019
Malaysia: Deputy Chief Minister and State Trade and Industries Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau says that the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) and Cement Industries (Sabah) (CIS) are in talks about building an integrated cement plant in Sabah state in Borneo. The minister was replying to questions in the state assembly about the higher cost of cement in the region compared to West Malaysia, according to the Daily Express newspaper. There are no integrated plants in the state, although CIS operates a grinding plant that uses imported clinker.
Philippines: Eagle Cement’s sales rose by 28% year-on-year to US$202m in the first half of 2019 from US$157m in the same period in 2018. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 21% to US$80.6m.
The company said it was on track to complete a 1.5Mt/yr grinding upgrade to its Bulacan plant in 2020. It added that it was secured approval for a permit to build a port terminal to support its new Line 4 production line at its Cebu plant. Once completed it expects to sell cement in the Visayas region by the end of 2020.
Arkan Cement grows profit on sale of old plant 06 August 2019
UAE: Arkan Cement’s profit has grown in the first half of 2019 due to the sale of the closed Emirates Cement plan in February 2019. The subsidiary of Arkan Building Materials also said that it had benefitted from cost controls and a successful insurance claim. Its profit more than doubled to US$12.4min the first half of 2019 from US$4.67m in the same period in 2018. However, its sales revenue fell by 9.6% to US$79 from US$85.2m. It blamed this on local ‘price pressure’ due to a declining export market.
UAE: Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Cement’s sales fell by 20% year-on-year to US$25.4m in the first half of 2019 from US$31.7m in the same period in 2018. Its profit dropped by 79% to US$0.39m from US$1.88m. Its cost of sales decreased to US$234m from US$29.1m.
Panama: The government is set to look at new regulations for hexavalent chromium (chromium VI) in cement imports. Jorge Azcárraga, the general manager of Cemento Interoceánico said that the authorities are expected to set up a technical forum to discuss the issue, according to the Panamá América newspaper. The issue is being treated separately from newly introduced requirements and standards of cement because it is considered a health issue. It was previously reported that the government was set to introduce testing imports for chromium VI in March 2019.
Mexico: Austria’s Unitherm Cemcon has been awarded the supply of an MAS DT burner to an unnamed cement plant in Mexico. The burner is designed for coal, natural gas and liquid secondary fuel operation. To optimise the maintenance work, the burner is equipped with a divisible jacket tube. A satellite burner, with the supplier’s adjustment system, will be mounted on top of the main burner to improve solid secondary fuel utilisation.
Cementos Argos launches new branding in Dominican Republic 06 August 2019
Dominican Republic: Cementos Argos has launched new branding under the tagline of 'imagine all we can build together.' Gary De la Rosa, chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, said that it would enhance the value the company offered to its customers, according to the Hoy newspaper. The Colombian company operates two ready-mix concrete plants and a cement grinding plant in the country.