27 November 2025

Indonesia: Cement sales fell by 2.5% year-on-year to 51.9Mt between January and October 2025, amid a reduction in the national IKN capital city construction budget to US$889m. Cement production also saw a decline of 6%, reaching 52.9Mt. The Indonesian Cement Association (ASI) said weakening demand occurred in Kalimantan, where sales dropped by 828,356t to 3.88Mt, and Java, where sales fell by 556,468t to 27.1Mt.

Secretary general Ari Wirawan said “Domestic cement sales from January to October 2025 continue to show a negative trend, affecting nearly all regions with a 2.5% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.”

Sales in Sumatra and Nusa Tenggara rose by 2% and 3% respectively due to toll road and tourism infrastructure projects. Exports rose by over 20% to 1.11Mt, with shipments going to Bangladesh, Taiwan, Australia, Timor Leste and Sri Lanka. Production dropped by 6% to 52.9Mt, with utilisation reaching 53%.

ASI chair Lilik Unggul Raharjo said a proposed increase in the home renovation programme budget to US$2.6bn could lift annual cement consumption by 6.2Mt. He said “A 4Mt increase in demand is admittedly somewhat optimistic. Nevertheless, our fervent hope is that the increased budget for home renovations will indeed come to fruition.”

Nepal: Udayapur Cement plant has resumed operations after an eight-month closure, the longest in its recent history, according to local press. The state-owned producer shut down entirely following the Council of Ministers’ 28 May 2025 decision to privatise it, creating uncertainty that halted production. The 800t/day capacity plant, located in Triyuga Municipality–6, Jaljale, has faced frequent shutdowns due to outdated equipment and is currently in significant debt, which the administration expects to reduce through continued operation.

General manager Kovid Kafle said the plant reopened after repairs. The plant had reportedly not provided salaries to its employees during the shutdown, and had only retained 193 out of 533 staff. The producer has requested a US$1.7m loan from the government, proposing to repay it within three years with interest.

Lithuania: Scientists at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) have developed methods to convert discarded textiles into alternative fuels and cement additives to reduce waste. Efforts focus on reducing the clinker content of cement and CO₂ output.

Dr Raimonda Kubiliute of the KTU Faculty of Chemical Technology said “The cement industry, especially clinker firing processes in rotary kilns, contributes significantly to environmental pollution. This is why researchers are actively seeking ways to reduce the amount of conventional cement in cement-based mixtures by replacing it with alternative binders or fillers.”

KTU found that polyester fibre from waste textiles, when added to concrete at 1.5%, increases compressive strength by 15-20% and improves freeze-thaw resistance. Ash from thermal treatment of textiles at 300°C in an inert atmosphere can replace up to 7.5% of ordinary Portland cement and increase strength by up to 16% under curing conditions. The findings are part of the ‘Production of Alternative Fuel from Textile Waste in Energy-Intensive Industries (Textifuel)’ project between KTU and the Lithuanian Energy Institute.

Dr Kubiliute said “This technological solution not only reduces CO₂ emissions during cement production but also provides an innovative and environmentally friendly approach to textile waste management.”

Colombia: The Colombian Navy seized 3.5t of cement during a maritime control operation in the Gulf of Urabá. The shipment, valued at US$2347, was reportedly being transported without proper documentation and aboard a vessel that did not meet maritime authority standards.

Three Colombian nationals transported the cement, and did not comply with regulations on controlled chemical substances. The Urabá Coast Guard Station inspected the unregistered, unmarked vessel, which also lacked a navigation certificate, registration or any visible identification on the hull. Authorities determined the quantity of cement aboard exceeded the legal transport limit, and the vessel was impounded. The vessel, cargo and crew were handed over to the relevant authorities.