15 August 2025

Saudi Arabia: Qassim Cement has signed a US$298m contract with Sinoma International Engineering to build a fourth production line at its Buraydah plant. The new line will have a production capacity of 10,000t/day.

CEO and board member of Qassim Cement Omar Al-Omar said that the project will replace ‘outdated’, low-efficiency production equipment while optimising the plant’s existing infrastructure. Al-Omar added that the project will support the company’s sustainable growth strategy, aimed at meeting domestic demand and diversifying products in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Colombia: Cementos Argos reported sales of US$316m in the second quarter of 2025, down by 4.5% year-on-year from US$330m. Net income rose by 93% year-on-year to US$37.6m from US$19.4m.

In the first half of 2025, sales fell by 5% year-on-year to US$618m from US$652m, while net income dropped by 58% to US$560m from US$1.33bn. The producer said the results were achieved through ‘strong pricing discipline’ and sustained efficiency efforts across various geographies, despite cement volumes declining by 4%. It noted mixed regional performance, with volume recovery in Colombia in June 2025 and continued growth in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Demand in Guatemala was unmet due to reduced exports from Honduras, following a longer-than-expected kiln stoppage in the first quarter of 2025, while the Panamanian market continued to underperform.

Ukraine: Cement producers have warned of consequences for the industry due to a 67% rise in the marginal price of electricity, according to Lyudmila Krypka, executive director of Ukrcement. Due to high tariffs, the industry is reportedly only operating at 60-70% of capacity.

Krypka said “Export for us is a matter of survival.”

She said that the increase was unjustified and wartime conditions with limited energy market competition created additional risks. Ukrainian industry receives no compensation for energy costs, unlike in the EU. Ukrcement has proposed preferential electricity transmission tariffs for energy-intensive industries and technical and economic criteria for priority enterprises.

India: JSW Cement plans to triple its production capacity. Managing director Parth Jindal said that the company has a current production capacity of 20Mt/yr and sufficient resources to scale up organically. Internal accruals will fund expansion to 42Mt/yr, with a qualified institutional placement or follow-on offerings considered for further expansion or acquisitions.

Jindal said that the company’s primary route will be organic growth, but that it remains open to acquisitions if strategic opportunities arise. He added that India’s cement industry is expected to grow by 6–7% in the 2026 financial year, driven by increased government infrastructure spending.