03 February 2025

US: Heidelberg Materials North America has signed a binding agreement with Giant Cement’s multiple minority shareholders to acquire the producer outright. Noticias Financieras News has reported that Heidelberg Materials North America will pay approximately US$600m for the business. Giant Cement is scheduled to fully shut its Thomaston, Maine, cement plant in early 2025.

Giant Cement belongs to Spain-based Cementos Portland Valderrivas, with a 45% stake, Mexico-based Cementos Fortaleza (41%) and Mexico-based Trituradora y Procesadora de Materiales Santa Anita (14%).

Zimbabwe: Khayah Cement has begun corporate rescue proceedings with appointed supervisor Grant Thornton (Zimbabwe). The Sunday News has reported that the company is in financial trouble following equipment failures affecting its vertical roller mill. Grant Thornton (Zimbabwe) has called a meeting of Khayah Cement’s stakeholders and creditors in Harare on 19 February 2025. The rescue process aims to remove the need for liquidation.

Khayah Cement switched over from integrated to grinding-only production in 2023.

Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) has forecast a 5% year-on-year rise in its full-year revenues due to economic revival and the government’s current stimulus package. President and CEO Thammasak Sethaudom said that increased customer purchasing power in Vietnam will raise SCG’s local cement and building material sales

SCG’s additional focuses will be on entering the Australia and North America markets and developing its high value-added products segment.

Germany: The Carbon Management Allianz (CMA), an association of emissions-intensive industrial producers in Germany, including cement companies, has urged lawmakers to legislate a framework for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) in the country.

Energie & Management News has reported that CMA Chair Alexandra Decker said “Delays jeopardise investments. Regulatory clarity is urgently needed to scale these technologies and achieve the cement industry’s decarbonisation goal by 2039.”

Germany is due to elect a new parliament and government on 23 February 2025.

Vietnam: The general director of Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (VICEM), Nguyen Thanh Tung, says that Vietnam will suffer continued cement overcapacity amid high production costs in 2025. Full-year production is forecast at 125Mt, 96% greater than an expected domestic demand of 63.5Mt. Việt Nam News has reported that Vietnam’s cement exports face an on-going investigation in Taiwan, and are already subject to anti-dumping duties in the Philippines.

VICEM aims to raise its domestic clinker sales volumes by 8% year-on-year to 18Mt, in order to generate sales of US$1.16bn. To this end, Tung urged the government to adopt cement reinforcement in roadbuilding, as well as lifting the export tax on cement.