Vietnam: Vietnamese cement exports in the first seven months of 2017 reached an estimated 17.8Mt, a year-on-year increase of 55% and close to the 18-19Mt target for the entire year. Exports of cement in July 2018 alone were estimated at 2.1Mt, an increase of 43% over July 2017.

During the seven month period, consumption of cement from Vietnamese producers in both domestic and export markets was estimated at 58.3Mt, equal to 69% of the year’s target 83-85Mt.

Pakistan: DG Khan Cement, part of Nishat Group, has announced the official opening of its recently commissioned Hub plant in Balochistan, Pakistan. The company claims that the 9000t/day (2.9Mt/yr) plant is ‘Asia's most modern’ and is constructed entirely from European equipment. FLSmidth was the main supplier of the pyroprocessing equipment, with Loesche supplying three complete grinding plants, Haver & Boecker supplying packaging solutions and IBAU Hamburg supplying silos and loading technology. The plant was built in just 30 months.

Global Cement visited the Hub project when it was under construction in the March 2018 issue.

Greece: Titan Cement’s turnover fell during the first half of 2018 due to a stagnant US market and negative currency effects. Its turnover fell by 7.9% year-on-year to Euro713m in the first half of 2018 from Euro774m in the same period in 2017. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 14% to Euro122m from Euro142m. However, its net profit rose by 78% to Euro24.8m from Euro13.9m.

In the US the group reported that demand for cement continued to grow but that ‘exceptionally’ rainy weather in the eastern states held back sales and ‘production challenges’ in Florida had to be addressed through increased imports via its Tampa terminal. Turnover declined in Greece due to falling infrastructure projects and a poor house-building sector.

Markets in southeastern Europe reported mixed performance with overall turnover falling. In Egypt negative currency affects limited turnover although earnings rose in both local and Euro terms. In Turkey the net results of Adocim were close to the previous year’s levels. In Brazil a truck drivers’ strike in May 2018 dented a construction market that was showing ‘encouraging’ signs.

India: Ambuja Cement sales have benefited from more infrastructure projects, improved sand availability and increased government spending. Its sales volumes of cement grew by 6% year-on-year to 26.9Mt in the first half of 2018 from 25.4Mt in the same period in 2017. Its net sales increased by 10% to US$1.89bn from US$1.72bn and its operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 7% to US$328m from US$306m.

"Ambuja is well positioned to benefit from the upsurge in rural demand and the encouraging external environment. Our consistent customer-connect initiatives, pursuit of operational excellence and continued focus on the retail segment is helping us reduce the impact of rising cost pressures," said Ajay Kapur, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Ambuja Cement.

Saudi Arabia: Southern Cement’s net profit fell by 31% year-on-year to US$36.8m in the first half of 2018 from US$53.3m in the same period in 2017. The cement producer blamed the fall in profit on poor demand as well as effects from the Ramadan and Eid public holidays.

Saudi Arabia: Production at Tabuk Cement and Hail Cement has risen supporting the construction of the Neom technology city project in the north of the country. Output from the producers has risen by 20% and 55% respectively year-on-year in the first half of 2018, according to Bloomberg. Both companies are located in the north of the country near to the project. Meanwhile, most of the other local cement companies have reported declining production. The Neom project has been backed with an investment of US$500bn.

China: Cement producers will be forced to pay fees for captive power plants under new legislation introduced by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The move was introduced in a draft plan in March 2018 in order to reduce electricity prices for industrial and commercial users, according to Reuters. The new regulations are also intended to cut down on pollution from coal-powered plants used by the cement sector as well as steel and aluminium producers. The size of fees paid by onsite power plants will be decided by provincial governments.

Ireland/UK: Quinn Cement has expanded its fleet of trucks with 14 Mercedes mountain lorries. The lorries were delivered between July 2017 and May 2018. All 14 vehicles are now in use in Quinn’s Doon and Swanlinbar quarries, transporting rock to the Quinn Cement plant at Derrylin.

The receipt of the new lorries marks the latest phase of an on-going fleet replenishment programme. The new mountain lorries are more efficient than the vehicles they have replaced as they carry a bigger payload. All these trucks are rated to work at 50t gross weight giving them a payload of around 33t, depending on the body. Ten of the new lorries’ bodies were manufactured, fitted and painted by C-Tec Engineering of Magherafelt, Northern Ireland. The final four lorries which have recently arrived on site, have a body that was manufactured in Italy by Drago and transported in kit form to Ireland to be assembled, painted and fitted by Gleeson Steel & Engineering in Tipperary.

Thailand: Siam Cement Group’s sales revenue from its cement business rose by 4% year-on-year to US$2.74bn in the first half of 2018. Its profit grew by 8% to US$125m and its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 4% to US$355m. The cement producer said that the country’s demand for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) rose by 2% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2018 due to an increase in demand from the public sector. Overall the company’s sales revenue grew in the first half of 2018 but its profit and earnings fell due to currency variations and increasing cost of input chemicals.

Vietnam: The Ministry of Construction has opposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s proposal to transfer the Quang Son cement plant from Vietnam Industrial Construction Corporation (Vinaincon) to Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (Vicem) on the grounds of the plant’s losses and debts. Both Vinaincon and Vicem are government owned, according to the Viet Nam News newspaper.

Luong Quang Khai, chairman of Vicem’s board of members, said that the Quang Son cement plant is located in a poor position for transport logistics, which has led to high production costs. The plant has also suffered from losses while its loans have grown to equal 95% of the plant’s total investment. Khai also noted that the potential new owner Vicem has undergone financial difficulties following its acquisition of the Ha Long and Song Thao cement plants.

Previously, the Ministry of Industry and Trade suggested that the government transfer the Quang Son cement plant to Vicem from Vinaincon. Under the proposal, Vicem would back the loans taken out by Vinaincon for the Quang Son cement plant. Formerly known as the Thai Nguyen cement plant, Quang Son started commercial operation in July 2011 with a cement production capacity of 1.5Mt/yr.