
August 2025
Saudi Arabia: Eastern Province Cement Company (EPCC) will install two MVR 5000 R-4 vertical roller mills from Gebr. Pfeiffer at its Khursaniyah plant, as part of a new 3.2Mt/yr (10,000t/day) production line. The mills will grind 550t/hr of cement raw material to a fineness of ≤10%R on 90µm.
The MVR mills are expected to improve technical availability, while reducing operating costs and emissions. This project marks the first installation of MVR vertical roller mills in Saudi Arabia and is being managed by Chinese contractor CBMI. Commissioning is scheduled for the second half of 2025.
Saudi cement sales rise 12% in fourth quarter of 2024 21 January 2025
Saudi Arabia: Cement sales increased by 12% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2024, reaching 14.87Mt, Arab News reports. Sales were primarily driven by domestic demand, which accounted for 96% of total sales. Exports contributed the remaining 4%, according to data from Al-Yamama Cement. For the full year, cement sales grew by 3.7% to 51.2Mt.
Al-Yamama Cement led the domestic market in the fourth quarter of 2024, with a 13% share and sales of 1.83Mt, up by 22% year-on-year. Qassim Cement, after acquiring Hail Cement, held an 11% share with 1.63Mt of sales. Yanbu Cement, Southern Cement, and Al Jouf Cement followed.
During the same period, Saudi Cement dominated in exports with 0.49Mt, representing 80% of total shipments and a 71% year-on-year increase. Clinker production grew by 7% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 14.9Mt, while clinker exports fell by 28% to 1.15Mt.
Amr Nader, CEO of cement consultancy A3&Co, said “These figures may not fully align with the anticipated surge in demand from ambitious infrastructure projects. Megaprojects such as NEOM, the Red Sea project, and FIFA World Cup-related developments require vast quantities of construction materials. The maximum anticipated demand in the next five years is 78Mt/yr.”
Attock Cement commissions 4.8MW wind turbine 21 January 2025
Pakistan: Attock Cement has commissioned a 4.8MW wind turbine project at its Hub site, it stated in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The company says that the project aligns with its commitment to sustainable cement production and aims to reduce power costs.
Cambodia waives tax on cement industry until December 2026 20 January 2025
Cambodia: The government has waived the 5% tax on domestic cement products from January 2025 to December 2026 to support the local cement industry, as announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The exemption reportedly aims to alleviate financial burden on the industry and promote growth. Local cement companies must comply with obligations including tax filings, maintaining comprehensive records and submitting annual reports detailing production, costs and social initiatives.
To date, Cambodia’s cement industry has attracted over US$1.2bn in investments, creating more than 2700 jobs and ‘significantly’ contributing to the economy, according to Construction & Property news.
Kaushalya Logistics opens depots for Ambuja Cement in Haryana 20 January 2025
India: Kaushalya Logistics has opened new depots for Ambuja Cement, part of the Adani Cement Group, in Kurukshetra and Bhiwani, Haryana.
This marks the first phase of a strategic expansion approved by ACC & Ambuja Cement to establish operations at key locations in Haryana, including Kaithal and Fatehabad. The new depots reportedly aim to improve inventory management, reduce transit times and enhance connectivity across key industrial hubs in the region.
Azerbaijan’s cement production rose in 2024 20 January 2025
Azerbaijan: Cement production reached 4.03Mt in 2024, up by 1.6% year-on-year, according to the State Statistics Committee. The total value of the construction materials sector rose by 17% to US$823m. Production of bricks and similar products from cement and concrete increased by 41%, while cement clinker output grew by 16%.
Nepal’s parliamentary committee to address cement price ‘cartel’ 20 January 2025
Nepal: The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives has received a complaint alleging that cement producers have created artificial shortages in order to raise prices, according to Republica newspaper. A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the complaint.
Northern Region Cement reports rise in production costs 20 January 2025
Saudi Arabia: Northern Region Cement has announced a projected 10% increase in production costs following Saudi Aramco's adjustment of fuel prices.
The company stated that it will explore strategies to mitigate the financial impact, focusing on cost reduction and enhancing production and operational efficiency.
Brazil: thyssenkrupp Polysius has secured a front-end engineering design contract from Circlua for the construction of the world’s largest activated clay plant, with a capacity of 0.96Mt/yr (3000t/day). The plant will be largely powered by renewable electricity, and will be located in Pará, utilising clay sourced from the Carajás iron ore complex. The clay contains up to 80% kaolinite content, and will be upcycled as supplementary cementitious material.
thyssenkrupp Polysius CEO Christian Myland said “We are honoured to partner on this landmark project. Leveraging high-quality local clay and our advanced activated clay technology, this plant will set a new benchmark for carbon-conscious cement production.”
Coal hopper collapses at Dalmia Bharat’s plant 17 January 2025
India: A coal hopper has collapsed at the Dalmia Cement (Bharat) plant in Rajganpur, Odisha, leaving several workers trapped under debris. According to the latest reports, 64 workers have been rescued or evacuated, but three remained trapped overnight. A large-scale operation by the authorities has been launched, with cranes and heavy machinery being used to clear the debris and attempt to find the trapped workers. Fatalities have not been confirmed.
A statement from Dalmia Cement (Bharat) said "The accident occurred at around 6:00 pm on 16 January 2025, wherein the whereabouts of three persons are yet to be ascertained. The injured have been provided with immediate treatment and the best medical care is being provided by the company.”
The statement added that the plant area has been cordoned off, according to Money Control news.
Update: On 18 January 2025, three bodies were recovered from the debris of the collapsed structure, after a 36-hour attempt. The plant is now closed until an investigation into the accident has taken place.
Dalmia Cement (Bharat) released a further statement, saying “We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident at the captive power plant in Rajgangpur. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the three workers who lost their lives in this incident. We are extending full support to the bereaved families in close coordination with the district administration, including education, livelihood and compensation.”