01 December 2025

Southeast Asia: The ASEAN Federation of Cement Manufacturers (AFCM) has launched the 2035 AFCM Decarbonisation Roadmap, which it says is the world’s first regional decarbonisation strategy for the cement sector. The roadmap was announced during the 46th AFCM Council Meeting in Brunei Darussalam, chaired by Dr Chana Poomee and attended by cement association leaders from all eight AFCM member countries.

The roadmap sets a shared framework for systematic CO₂ reduction aligned with national climate policies and global environmental goals. Supported by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), it is built upon four pillars: expansion of low carbon cement, transition to renewable energy across production processes and enhancing efficiency to reduce energy consumption, deployment of decarbonisation technologies such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), and development of new supplementary cementitious materials.

Member associations from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam said that national implementation will vary depending on local energy mix, policies, industrial maturity and material availability. The strategy could reportedly cut regional CO₂ emissions by up to 38Mt by 2035.

Pakistan: Since the closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on 11 October 2025, Afghan coal imports and cement exports have been halted, raising prices and prompting northern cement producers to shift to coal imports from South Africa, Indonesia and Mozambique. The move follows rising tensions between the two countries, with the cement sector among the most affected.

A manufacturer said Afghan coal is no longer available and ruled out using Iran as an alternative route due to the lack of banking channels and the impracticality of transporting coal. It said Afghanistan accounts for about 7% of Pakistan’s cement exports. Topline Securities reported that DG Khan Cement will continue using imported coal, while some producers have begun importing RB2 grade.

Insight Research has reported that Cherat Cement, Fauji Cement and Maple Leaf Cement are among the most exposed, with Afghan exports accounting for 9.8%, 5.8% and 3.1% of their sales, respectively.

Nigeria: The cement industry is set to reach a market value of US$1.44bn by the end of 2025, following a 9.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2020 and 2024, according to The Daily Times. The sector is projected to expand at a 7.9% CAGR between 2025 and 2029, with the market forecast to grow from US$1.33bn in 2024 to US$1.96bn by the end of 2029.

Growth is reportedly being driven by public infrastructure projects, urban housing and import substitution. Local producers have managed to maintain supplies, despite currency pressure, energy costs and logistics constraints. Firms are investing in alternative fuels, digital logistics and energy optimisation to manage volatility and support sustainability targets. However, long-term competitiveness will depend on regulatory reforms, energy stability and sustainable resource management.

Saudi Arabia: Al-Jouf Cement has signed a one-year, US$10m sales agreement with Towa Development to export cement to Syria and Palestine. The contract, effective from 30 November 2025 to 29 November 2026, reportedly represents over 14% of the producer’s total revenue based on its latest audited results. The company will supply all types of cement to Towa Development for export throughout the contract period.

China: Huaxin Building Materials Group will change its company name and logo from 4 December 2025. It said that the change reflects the company’s broader focus on building materials beyond cement.