16 March 2020

China: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has reported net profit growth for the entire domestic cement sector of 20% year-on-year to US$26.6bn in 2019 from US$22.3bn in 2018. Total revenues reached US$144bn, representing an increase of 13% from US$128bn. Xinhua China Economic Information Service has reported that the MIIT attributed the profit growth to a reduction in overcapacity throughout the year due to supply-side structural reform.

Philippines: Cemex Holdings Philippines has announced that production of will continue as normal at all its plants in spite of the global coronavirus pandemic. Reuters has reported that the company has activated rapid response teams throughout operations to reduce the disease’s impacts. Cemex Holdings Philippines has said that there will be no material disruption in its ability to transport products or receive raw materials and equipment.

Mexico: A ship carrying cement from Cooperativa La Cruz Azul’s 2.2Mt/yr Oaxaca plant in Lagunas, Oaxaca state has sunk with 1500t of cement. Maritime Bulletin has reported that the Togo-registered vessel, Duban, had been delivering cement to Manzanillo, Colima state.

China: A cement plant in Xiamen, Fujian province, that was shut down under the China Cement Association’s overcapacity crackdown has found a new lease of life as luxury flats. Dezeen News has reported that the flats incorporates modern industry and the ancient Chinese village through minimalist use of cement to evoke physical stasis and calm.

Namibia: Ohorongo Cement – via the Ohorongo Otavi Community Trust – has donated US$59,800 to the Opuwo district hospital. Ohorongo Cement general manager Rudolf Coetzee sais, “This organisation supports various projects by means of financial and humanitarian means as well as through donation.”