02 August 2024

Mexico: Cooperativa Cruz Azul has announced the upcoming construction of a new cement plant in Seybaplaya, Campeche, with an investment exceeding US$300m. The plant will occupy a site previously used for lime and cement production in order to minimise environmental impact. Construction started on 1 August 2024, with completion of the first production line anticipated by the end of 2026, Noticias Financieras News has reported. The plant will produce 3000t/day of cement. The project is expected to create 2000 temporary construction jobs and 350 permanent positions.

Kenya: Savannah Cement will sell assets including its Athi River grinding plant to compensate creditors, following its liquidation after entering administration in 2023, Business Daily has reported. Savannah Cement’s administrator PKF Kenya announced that the closing date for expressions of interest will be 16 August 2024. The company owes creditors US$139m. KCB Bank Kenya and Absa Bank Kenya, as preferential creditors, are owed US$68.5m and US$40.3m respectively, and will have their claims prioritised in the liquidation process. The forced sale value of these assets stands at US$58.6m, suggesting losses for unsecured creditors.

Vietnam: The Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has expressed environmental concerns about Duyen Ha's plan to convert 423,000m² of forest and and agricultural land into a quarry for its expansion of its Diep cement plant in Ninh Binh province. The expansion will increase limestone supply for a second production line at the plant, Vietnam News has reported. According to an environmental impact assessment report, the expansion will affect 382,000m² of forest and 41,000m² of agricultural land. The total project area will eventually reach 988,000m², capable of producing 2Mt/yr of limestone. The total investment is valued at US$8.8m.

Türkiye: Türkiye exported cement products worth US$40.5m to Georgia from January to June 2024, marking an increase of 14% year-on-year. The Turkish Ministry of Trade reported that in June 2024, cement exports to Georgia totalled US$7.9m, up by 16% from June 2023. However, June 2024 saw Türkiye's global cement exports decline by 18% compared to June 2023, to US$336.5m.

Dominican Republic: Sika has announced the acquisition of fellow construction chemicals producer Vinaldom. This acquisition marks Sika’s first production site in the Dominican Republic and its sixth in the region, according to a press release. The deal aims to improve customer supply and support local production.