September 2025

Malaysia: Cahya Mata Sarawak’s (CMS) sales from its cement division rose by 7% year-on-year to US$137m in 2019 from US$128m in 2017. Its operating profit fell by 11% to US$22.2m from US$24.9m. CMS attributed the drop in profit on repair costs from maintenance to its integrated plant at Kuching. Rising international clinker prices were also blamed.

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Cement Company’s revenue fell by 5.5% year-on-year to US$299m in 2018 from US$316m in 2017. Its net profit decreased by 11.7% to US$107m from US$121m. It blamed the loss of profit on poor domestic sales, rising selling and marketing costs and an increase in Islamic finance costs.

Turkey: Akçansa’s sales revenue grew by 13% year-on-year to Euro285m in 2018 from Euro252m in 2017. Its net profit increased by 21% to Euro29.8m from Euro24.7m. The joint venture between Sabancı Holding and Germany’s HeidelbergCement attributed its sales growth to continued efforts to protect its domestic market against competition and its growth overseas. Umut Zenar, Akçansa General Manager, said that the company started exporting products from Ambarlı Port in 2018. The cement producer aims to double its exports during 2019.

Uzbekistan: Akhangarancement, part of Russia’s Eurocement, has installed a new Wikov gearbox on the rotary kiln at its plant in Akhangaransky as part of a US$1.5m upgrade project. Other work included upgrades to the clinker conveyors, the sludge line, the cooler, the heat exchanger and other equipment. A new production line is currently being built at the 2Mt/yr plant. It is scheduled for commissioning in 2020.

Bolivia: Sacyr Industrial and Imasa Ingenieria y Proyectos have awarded a contract to Claudius Peters for a packing and palletising system for the Potosí cement plant. The scope of delivery consists of a 12 spout Pacpal Roto Fill with a capacity of 3600bags/hr, an automatic bag applicator with cassette magazine as well as a palletizing system Pacpal Palletiser 5000. The palletiser is designed for 50kg bags and suitable for a five-bag layer type on slip sheets. The plant is operated by the state-run cement producer Empresa Publica Productiva Cementos de Bolivia (ECEBOL). No value for the order has been disclosed.

Bolivia: The Lower House of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly has approved a bill allowing state-owned cement producer Empresa Publica Productiva Cementos de Bolivia (ECEBOL) to buy land at Chiutara in Potosi to build a future plant. ECEBOL will buy 39.8 hectares for a project with an investment of around US$240m, according to the El Potosi newspaper. The new plant will have a production capacity of 1.3Mt/yr.

Australia: Boral Australia’s revenue grew slightly to US$1.31bn in its half year to 31 December 2018. This was supported by growing revenues from its cement, quarry and asphalt businesses. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 8% year-on-year to US$194m from US$210m. This was blamed on lower concrete sales volumes and rising fuel costs.

“Boral’s half year results reflect strong underlying businesses, which were impacted by adverse weather, particularly in North America, as well as project-related volume delays in Australia. We expect to deliver growth in the second half,” said chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director Mike Kane. Overall, the group’s revenue rose but its EBITDA fell.

India: FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals India plans to start operations at its new 0.3Mt/yr white cement plant to be built at Nohra Dhar, Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh by 2022. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Aravali and the state government, according to the Press Trust of India. The project has an investment of US$85m and it is expected to create 150 jobs. Aravali operates 15 gypsum mines in Rajasthan.

Vietnam: The Ministry of Construction says that demand for cement and clinker is expected to increase slightly to up to 99Mt in 2019. This will consist of 70Mt locally and 29Mt of exports, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Demand grew by 19% year-on-year to 96.7Mt in 2018, with growth driven by a 55% rise in exports to 31.6Mt. It shipped 9.8Mt to China in 2018. The main export markets in 2019 are expected to be the Philippines, Bangladesh, China, Taiwan and Peru.

The Gambia: Sherif Faye, the operations manager of Jah Oil, says that the company has enough cement to supply The Gambia. He made the comment at a press event held in response to public outcry over a local cement shortage, according to the Point newspaper. The company has experienced delays to its inbound shipments due to poor weather in Europe. However, he confirmed that two ships carrying cement had recently arrived in the country.

The subsidiary of Jah Group sells its Tiger Cement 42.5 grade brand product in 50kg bags. The cement is imported from Spain and Algeria and bagged locally. Jah Oil has a bagging capacity of 108,000 bags/day.