09 September 2019
Brazil swells year-on-year sales 09 September 2019
Brazil: Brazil’s National Syndicate of the Cement Industry (SNIC) has released August 2019 sales figures of 5.10Mt, up by 3.0% year-on-year from 4.95% in August 2019. This corresponds to an equal apparent consumption of cement in the country of 5.10Mt, up by 2.9% year-on-year from 4.96Mt in August 2018. Besides rising demand, SNIC points to non-repeating depressing factors acting on domestic cement capacity a year ago, including a lorry drivers’ strike.
Argentine cement sales rise 09 September 2019
Argentina: Argentina’s Association of Portland Cement Manufacturers (AFCP) has reported on a 5.0% month-on-month growth in cement volumes sold to 1.05Mt in August 2019 from 1.00Mt in July of the same year. Domestic production continues to meet the entirety of demand, which grew by 5.1% year-on-year to 1.00Mt in July 2019 from 0.95Mt in July 2018.
Philippine Competition Commission proceeds to phase two of Holcim acquisition probe 09 September 2019
Philippines: The 30-day inquiry by the Mergers and Acquisitions Office (MAO) of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) into First Stronghold Cement’s takeover of Holcim Philippines has concluded that the deal may affect market concentration in the cement sector. The Philippine Star reports that this finding clears the way for a phase-two review. The MAO will seek to ascertain whether the deal might result in lessened competition or increase the likelihood of cartel-like activities. This ties in with the Commission’s general investigation into anti-competitiveness in the cement industry.
First Stronghold Cement, a subsidiary of San Miguel, has a stake in Northern Cement and its president and chief operating officer, Ramón Ang, is also the majority owner and chairman of Eagle Cement. In May 2019 it acquired 85.7% of Holcim Philippines for US$2.15bn.
Buzzi Unicem launches rebranded Russian subsidiary SLK Cement 09 September 2019
Russia: Buzzi Unicem has formed its total 8.1Mt/yr Russian operations into a limited liability company called SLK Cement. The name combines the first letters of the names of cities where its plants are located, namely Sukhoi Log and Korkino. Andrey Immoreev, chief executive officer (CEO) of Dyckerhoff Cement in Russia, said that the rebranding ‘emphasises the importance of the Russian market in the company’s plans.’ Buzzi Unicem continues to trade as Dyckerhoff in its Central and Eastern European production areas.
Cement plant coats town in dust 09 September 2019
Spain: The residents’ association of San Diego, Galicia, has filed a complaint to the Port of A Coruña over a discharge of cement dust from Cementos Cosmos’ 0.7Mt/yr Niebla plant. La Voz de Galicia has reported that the emission was the result of a broken pipe. Cementos Cosmos, a subsidiary of Votorantim, says that it detected the malfunction instantly, and resolved it within three minutes.
Berthold Technologies releases radiometric measurements white paper 09 September 2019
Germany: Berthold Technologies, the innovator of measurement and detection software and electronics, has released a white paper on radiometric measurement processes relevant to the cement industry. The technologies under investigation are non-contact moisture, density and liquid/bulk solid level measurers, which can also be used as non-contact limit switches. The white paper details the accurate and reproducible use of the technologies, and their application in minimising error sources.