October 2025

Portugal: CBMI has signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract with SECIL Cement Group for the renovation of the 1800t/day clinker line at the Maceira plant.

The project includes the installation of a new firing system and a series of upgrades to improve energy and heat efficiency. The upgrade encompasses five decarbonisation measures, including a 100% alternative fuel design rate, with the aim to decrease CO₂ emissions by 30% compared to 2019 levels. This would reportedly reduce CO₂ emissions to 550kg/t of clinker.

India: Dalmia Bharat recorded a 2% year-on-year decline in cement sales volumes to 6.7Mt in the third quarter of the 2025 financial year, compared to 6.8Mt in the previous corresponding period. Profit before tax dropped by 77% to US$9.6m, while earnings by interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 34.5% to US$5.9m from US$9m in the same period last year.

Managing director and CEO Puneet Dalmia said “After multiple years of high growth, India witnessed a slightly slow start to the year, but the government's continuous focus on investment-led growth underpin my confidence in a rebound of the Indian economy. In this backdrop, I believe cement demand growth will regain momentum. Our capacity expansion plans are on track, as we will reach 49.5Mt/yr by the end of 2025.”

CFO Dharmender Tuteja added “Cement demand growth in the third quarter fell short of our earlier expectations. Our volumes declined by 2% year-on-year while EBITDA fell 34.5% year-on-year to US$5.9m with persistent weakness in cement prices. With demand now gaining traction and prices showing signs of optimism, we are confident about a stronger performance in the upcoming quarters.”

India: Nuvoco Vistas has reported 16% year-on-year growth in its consolidated cement sales to 4.7Mt in the third quarter of the 2025 financial year ending on 31 December 2024.  Consolidated revenue from operations stood at US$279m and consolidated EBITDA at US$30m. In its release, the company stated that the cement industry was recovering following a challenging first half of the 2025 financial year and subdued demand.

Nuvoco stated that it had achieved the industry's ‘lowest carbon emissions’ at 457kg of CO₂ per tonne of cementitious materials.

Managing director Jayakumar Krishnaswamy said “The company proactively seized demand opportunities to bolster its position in the market and delivered strong volume growth during the quarter. The company is confident in its expansion strategy and ability to execute on growth plans pertaining to Vadraj Cement, which will diversify its market footprint in western India, thereby supporting long-term growth ambitions and further consolidating its position as the fifth largest player in India.”

The company is reportedly on track to achieve 31Mt/yr cement capacity by the third quarter of the 2027 financial year.

US: The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has selected Cemex's Knoxville cement plant in Tennessee as the site for a carbon capture, removal and conversion test centre. The project is part of a US$101m initiative shared among five projects that aim to decarbonise cement plants and power facilities.

Cemex, in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and a coalition of US cement producers, will develop the conceptual design, business, technical and managerial frameworks for the test centre under Phase 1. Phase 2 will involve constructing and operating the centre to evaluate advanced carbon management systems.

Jaime Muguiro, president of Cemex US, said “While we are making steady progress, the cement industry has the opportunity to accelerate the pace of our decarbonisation even more. I am excited that our Knoxville cement plant has been selected as the host site for the carbon capture test centre. Through collaboration and continuous innovation with the University of Illinois and industry peers, Cemex is committed to advancing decarbonisation solutions.”

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 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.”

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: 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.

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: 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%.