21 October 2024

India: Dalmia Bharat has reported a 60.5% decline in net profit to US$5.83m for the second quarter ending 30 September 2024, down from US$14.8m in the same period in 2023. Revenue from operations slightly decreased by 2% to US$36.7m, compared to US$37.5m in 2023. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) also fell by 27% to US$5.16m. However, the company recorded an 8.4% year-on-year increase in cement volumes to 6.7Mt.

Managing director and CEO Puneet Dalmia said "I believe that as India grows, the cement sector will continue to flourish. We are actively working to announce our Phase II expansions within the next nine months and achieve our interim milestone of 75Mt/yr by the 2028 financial year."

Peru: National cement dispatch fell by 2% year-on-year to 1.06Mt in September 2024, according to a report by ASOCEM, the cement manufacturers’ association of Peru. Cement production rose slightly by 0.2% year-on-year to 997,000t, while clinker production dropped by 19% to 661,000t. Cement exports declined by 1% year-on-year to 11,500t, and clinker exports decreased by 45% to 37,400t. However, cement imports increased by 0.5% compared to September 2023 to 21,000t, and clinker imports rose by 34% to 84,000t.

Kenya: Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested three suspects in Baruti, Nakuru County, for impersonating employees of a cement company and defrauding unsuspecting customers by offering cement at low prices. During the raid, assorted SIM cards, a desktop computer and six mobile phones were seized, according to The Star newspaper. The DCI confirms that investigations are ongoing and more accomplices may be arrested. The suspects are currently in custody awaiting formal charges.

India: Shree Cement's Ras quality control laboratory in Rajasthan has been recognised by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), affirming its compliance with the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards. Managing Director Neeraj Akhoury said that the accreditation acknowledges the company's commitment to providing premium, sustainable building materials. The laboratory's role in ensuring standardisation across all product testing is important for maintaining production quality at the plant.

India: The environmental public hearing for Meghatop Cement's proposed integrated cement plant in Wahiajer village, Elaka Narpuh, was conducted on 18 October 2024, according to The Shillong Times. The plant is planned to have a 3.3Mt/yr clinker capacity and 16MW waste heat recovery system, and has faced a mixed reaction from several community members. Franky Laloo from the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board led the hearing, attended by district officials, villagers and company representatives. Supporters emphasised the potential community benefits of the plant, but the Jaintia Women Council expressed some concerns, saying that “We intended to voice our opposition at the hearing, but were prevented by village volunteers and police. A hearing that only accommodates supporters is unacceptable.”