India: Global Cement & Concrete Association (GCCA) India has entered talks with UK-based Xynteo and the Build Ahead coalition to scale up decarbonisation in India’s construction sector. The partners have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote low-carbon cement and concrete usage. This two-year collaboration will develop emission thresholds for cement and concrete as a basis for future policy on production and use of low-carbon materials. The initiative will also include joint governmental engagement and the sharing of research for low-carbon building materials.

Deepak Khetrapal, GCCA India co-chair and Orient Cement managing director, said "The reduction of clinker factor and the increasing use of supplementary cementitious materials in cement manufacturing is an important decarbonisation lever for the industry. Developing an India-specific definition for ‘low-carbon’ or ‘green’ cement and concrete is the need of the hour, and it is crucial for the development of a net zero CO₂ roadmap for the Indian cement and concrete industry."

Zimbabwe: Representatives from the Magunje community appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation, voicing concerns over Labenmon Investments Pvt’s noncompliance with legal procedures in establishing a cement production plant near Kemureza Dam and Magunje Growth Point. Led by Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations of Residents Trust (ZNOART), the community alleged that their views were ignored in the environmental impact assessment process for the plant, which will occupy 135 hectares. The Parliament Committee plans to visit the site soon to gather information from residents. The project is expected to employ over 1500 people and boost the local economy.

Thomas Chidzomba, representative for Hong Kong-based Labenmon Investments Pvt, said "Our project is clear and will follow all the country's laws. In addition, the plant is going to use state-of-the-art technology which ‘minimises or eradicates’ air pollution. We will also not pollute the Kemureza Dam as we will not draw water from it for our operations."

India: Kanodia Cement plans to launch an initial public offering to raise approximately US$95m, with a draft red herring prospectus expected to be filed with market regulator SEBI by the end of December 2024. The company currently has a production capacity of 5Mt/yr, with plants in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. CEO Gautam Kanodia said that the company has plans to expand its cement capacity to 10Mt/yr.

Spain: Molins announced a revenue of €1bn for the first nine months of 2024, down by 5% year-on-year, impacted by lower volumes and currency fluctuations. Particularly in Argentina, economic instability and currency devaluation affected performance. Net profit rose by 23% year-on-year to €153m, while earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled €274m, a decrease of 1% from the corresponding period in 2023. 

Portugal: Cimpor has presented its decarbonisation plan during a visit from the Portuguese Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, to its Alhandra cement plant. The plan involves a €360m investment across Cimpor’s Alhandra, Souselas and Loulé plants to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Current projects at the Alhandra plant include a €110m investment in alternative fuels and two €35m investments in a replacement mill and new clinker cooler. The company estimates a CO₂ emissions reduction of 190,000t/yr and a 16GWh energy saving. Similar initiatives are underway at the Souselas plant, such as the conversion of a kiln to produce calcined clays, which could reportedly cut 70,000t/yr of CO₂.

Cevat Mert, CEO of Cimpor for Portugal and Cape Verde, said “We are committed to investing in Portugal for the environment, sustainability and technology, and our projects are going at full speed. I would like to emphasise that the government´s infrastructure investments, support and incentives, particularly for the environment and sustainability, need to gain further momentum, and we trust in the minister’s support on prioritising this matter. I am confident that together we will continue to build a cement sector that Portugal can be proud of.”

US: Eagle Materials' quarterly revenues hit US$624m in the first half of the 2025 financial year, with net earnings of US$144m and earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$242m. The company’s cement revenues dropped by 2% year-on-year, to US$353m, resulting in a 5% fall in its operating earnings from cement, to US$116m, exacerbated by increased maintenance costs. Cement sales volume declined by 5% year-on-year to 2Mt, affected by adverse weather in Texas in July 2024 and Eastern US markets in September 2024.

UK: Heidelberg Materials UK has launched evoBuild, a global brand for low-carbon and circular cement, ready-mixed concrete, aggregates and asphalt products, in line with its parent company's sustainability strategy. According to the company, EvoBuild products either reduce CO₂ emissions by at least 30% or incorporate at least 30% recycled content.

This launch complements evoZero, the ‘world's first carbon-captured net-zero cement’, launched by Heidelberg Materials in November 2023. All eligible products from Heidelberg Materials UK will be integrated into the evoBuild portfolio ‘over the coming years.’

Saudi Arabia: Yamama Cement Company recorded sales of US$76m and net income of US$26.1m for the third quarter of 2024. This marks a rise of 35% and 140% respectively from US$56.5m in sales and US$10.9m in net income in the corresponding period in 2023.

Mexico: Cemex recorded an earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$747m in the third quarter of 2024, down by 9% year-on-year, with net sales falling by 3% to US$4.09bn. This period was influenced by adverse weather and foreign exchange movements, according to the company. Net income for the quarter more than tripled year-on-year to reach US$406m.

Compared to the corresponding period in 2023, sales in Mexico fell by 5% to US$1.14bn, while sales in the US decreased by 4% to US$1.34bn. In South and Central America and the Caribbean, sales declined by 1% to US$311m. Conversely, sales in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region rose by 1% to US$1.24bn.

Afghanistan: The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed a US$163m contract for the construction of a cement plant in northern Jawzjan province. The plant will produce 3000t/day of cement under a 30-year contract and is expected to employ about 1200 local people.

In an attempt to become self-sufficient in its cement production, the Ministry has also recently signed contracts worth US$476m with domestic and international companies across Parwan, Kandahar and Herat provinces.