August 2025

India: LafargeHolcim and HeidelbergCement have joined a bidding war for Emami Cement. LafargeHolcim is reported to have submitted an expression of interest via its subsidiary Ambuja Cement, according to the Hindu newspaper. HeidelbergCement has submitted its bids through HeidelbergCement India. Emami Cement has an expected value of around US$845m. Nuvoco Vistas Corporation, Shree Cement and Dalmia Bharat have also been linked to the sale.

Emami Cement operates a 2.5Mt/yr integrated plant at Risda in Chhattisgarh and a 2.5Mt/yr grinding plant at Panagarh in West Bengal. It acquired a 0.6Mt/yr grinding plant at Bhabua, Bihar in September 2018. In addition, the firm has mining assets in Guntur in Andhra Pradesh and near Jaipur in Rajasthan. Its main markets are in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It markets its products under the Double Bull brand.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: The government has decided to resume the construction of the Maiko cement plant in Kisangani. Work on the project had been stalled, according to Radio Okapi. Industry Minister Julien Paluku said that contacts are already underway with a new partner to continue the work on the unit. Work on the 1Mt/yr plant started in 2007 with an investment of US$250m. China’s Satarem Hong Kong was previously linked to the project as an investor.

Zambia: Jimmy Khan, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Lafarge Zambia, has complained about production overcapacity and competition to the president of Zambia. He said that local cement consumption is 2.2Mt/yr compared to production of 5Mt/yr, according to the Lusaka Times newspaper. He made the visit to the president of the country to inform him of a 25% rise in the price of cement. Khan blamed the price hike on business losses.

However, Khan praised the government for its infrastructure development and said that the subsidiary of LafargeHolcim has moved much of its despatches from road to railway. At present the cement producer has a 33% market share. It also intends to continue using the Mpulungu Port in Northern Province to export cement to the east African market.

Laos: An explosion at a quarry related to a cement plant near Phonemany village, Nam Bak district in Luang Prabang province has killed one person and injured over 20. The nearby village was affected by the blast causing damage to houses and vehicles, according to Radio Free Asia. A villager alleged that the Chinese-owned plant never warned locals of the blasting schedule and that the explosion was larger than usual. Khammany Inthirath, Minister of Energy and Mines, said that the government had sent a team to investigate what happened.

Philippines: Cemex Philippines has ordered a MVR type mill for cement raw material grinding from Germany’s Gebr. Pfeiffer for a plant in Antipolo. The order also includes a MPS mill to grind coal. Gebr. Pfeiffer said that the order was received through a Chinese general contractor. No value for the order or timescale was disclosed.

Philippines: Phinma Corporation is spending around US$50m on a new cement plant at Bataan with a production capacity of 2Mt/yr. Philcement, a subsidiary of Phinma Corp. and Seasia Nectar Port Services (SNPS), have signed a deal to take over certain construction-in-progress assets, including the usage rights to pier facilities and land currently under lease by Philcement, for a terminal for US$15.5m, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper. Eduardo Sahagun, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) said that the company would need up to US$35m to complete the project. Once competed it will be possible to expand the unit to 4Mt/yr depending on market demand.

Egypt: The government has reduced the price of natural gas for cement producers to US$5 per one million British thermal units (BTU). Previously the price was US$8MBtu, according to Mubasher. The government has reduced the price at a similar rate for other industrial users including iron, steel, aluminium, cooper, ceramic, and porcelain plants. It will now review the price of gas every six months.

Malaysia: Lafarge Malaysia has been renamed as Malayan Cement. It follows the divestment of the cement producer from LafargeHolcim to YTL Cement in May 2019.

Netherlands: Cementir Holding has moved its registered office to the Netherlands. The building materials producer approved the decision in late June 2019. The transfer will not affect the company’s listing on the Italian Stock Exchange or its tax residence, which will remain in Italy. At the time chairman Francesco Caltagirone, Jr said that the decision to move the company’s headquarters was a, “purely technical choice that in no way disregards our group's deep Italian roots.”

Cementir Holding is a multinational manufacturer of grey and white cement, ready-mixed concrete, aggregates and concrete products, exporting to over 70 countries worldwide. It is a global leader in white cement and the group employs approximately 3100 people in 18 countries. The group sold its principal Italian business, Cementir Italia, and its shares in related companies to Italcementi in early 2018.

US: People living near the Cemex Lyons cement plant in Colorado have complained about dust emissions. The Save Our St. Vrain Valley group has filed a report with Boulder County Public Health about dust clouds rising from site, according to the Associated Press. The local authorities say that the clouds don't appear to violate any existing regulations but Cemex officials have promised to look into the issue. The cement producer has also said that it has ways to mitigate dust emissions and it welcomes hearing from people so it can address any concerns.