September 2025

Rwanda: PPC subsidiary Cimerwa’s sales grew by 1% year-on-year in the 2020 financial year, in which it recorded earnings before interest, depreciation, taxation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$16.7m. The producer says that it recovered strongly from a 40-day shutdown of cement production due to a national coronavirus lockdown that started on 22 March 2020, with cement production of 55,000t in July 2020. It also diversified its product range during the period with the launch of its new Sure Range cements.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Albert Sige said, “These results demonstrate Cimerwa’s strong foundation, resilience and great potential. In response to the exceptional situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, the team stepped up to the challenge by putting in place measures to ensure business continuity and protect performance. As the market opened up, we were more than ready to continue supplying our customers and stay on the course of Strengthening Rwanda. We undertook various initiatives that will have long-term positive impact on the business. This includes cost savings initiatives, strengthening the organisation and applying innovation to face new challenges. Cimerwa will emerge from this situation even stronger than before.”

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement has signed a new retroactive three-year collective labour agreement with the Union of Clerical Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE). Under the agreement, employees will receive an 18% pay rise over the three-year period ending on 30 June 2021. The Jamaica Observer newspaper has reported that the deal will also provide a 10% raise in call-out pay, a transportation allowance and scholarships for employees’ children. It also alters the existing profit sharing scheme, housing benefits and loan programmes.

Switzerland: LafargeHolcim has committed to accelerate the impact across its United Nation (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) activities, and disclose its progress.

Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Magali Anderson said, “As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, it is more important now than ever for companies and governments to unite around climate action and the SDGs. That’s why we set ourselves the most ambitious 2030 climate targets in our industry, joining the Business Ambition for 1.5°C. Decarbonising business is vital, but it’s not enough. We are accelerating our overall commitment to the SDGs to build a world that works for people and the planet.”

India: The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has claimed responsibility for an improvised explosive device (IED) blast which injured one person and damaged a wall and water pipes at Star Cement’s cement plant in the East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. The Press Trust of India has reported that the attack resulted from the producer’s failure to pay protection money as a non-locally-owned business.

Uzbekistan: Suppliers have completed the delivery of equipment from China for cement production at Fergana Yasin Qurilish Mollari’s Fergana cement plant. Trend News has reported that the Uzbek-Chinese joint venture will complete the second phase of the plant’s construction in July 2021, at a cost of US$120m. As a result its capacity will rise to 2.0Mt/yr.

Oman: Raysut Cement received a total of seven awards at the Oman Best Employer Brand Awards 2020 and the Gulf Cooperation Council Best Employer Brand Awards 2020. Group chief executive officer (CEO) Joey Ghose won CEO of the Year at both the Oman and GCC awards. In the former, the company also won Best Use of Technology in the Workplace, Promoting Health in the Workplace and Training Provider of the Year. At the regional awards it won the Talent Management and Leaders of Tomorrow awards.

Acting deputy CEO Salim bin Ahmed bin Alawi Al Ibrahim said, “We operate beyond Oman - in the UAE through our subsidiary Pioneer Cement Company, in Yemen through associates and in East Africa through trading offices as well as new investments. We have also invested in Georgia and have recently acquired a terminal in the Maldives too. We will be expanding further and will be present in different parts of the world supporting infrastructure development in various geographies with Omani clinker and cement. Last year RCC acquired Sohar Cement Company and we believe that our success lies in our highly motivated, skilled and trained employees who deliver the best quality we are known for.”

Oman: Raysut Cement has inaugurated new leisure facilities at the Al Wafa Social Centre in Salalah. The company oversaw the establishment of a rehabilitation hall and hydrotherapy facility and reequipped the centre with new sports equipment.

Salalah cement plant general manager Mohammed Ahmed Aideed said, “The opening of this project comes within the company's strategy for social responsibility which covers the support for Al Wafa Social Centre in Salalah.” He added, “Today we inaugurate this project, which is one of the fruits of this strategy approved by Raysut Cement Company’s Board of Directors.”

Canada/US: Brazil-based Votorantim Cimentos says it has agreed to form a new 83%-owned subsidiary based in Toronto to combine the assets of McInnis Cement and St Mary’s Cement. Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), the current owner of McInnis Cement, will hold a 17% stake in the joint-venture. The group says that it will manufacture, distribute and sell building materials in the companies’ existing regions in Canada and the US.

Votorantim Cimentos said, “The company believes this transaction will result in the creation of a competitive, nimble and highly efficient business that will be better able to supply cement to customers in Canada and the US. In addition to strengthening the company’s presence in North America by expanding its current cement production capacity by 2.2Mt/yr and combining the company’s Great Lakes-focused distribution network with McInnis Holding’s complementary distribution network in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern USA, the Company anticipates the Transaction will result in substantial synergies.”

The transaction is subject to approval by regulatory authorities in Brazil, the US and Canada.

Pakistan: The Ministry of Commerce has advised the government that a concessionary rate for cement companies for the supply of electricity would reduce costs and increase international competitiveness. The Business Recorder newspaper has reported that the ministry proposed the measure due to the industry’s ‘immense’ potential for exports. In the 2020 financial year, the country exported US$266m-worth of cement. The ministry said that the current government’s policies would cause this to ‘substantially’ increase.

India: Tax authorities have raided 10 offices of Chettinad Cement and its subsidiaries in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The Times of India newspaper has reported that the officers are investigating allegations of tax evasion.