Global: Policymakers, including those from the governments of Canada, the UAE and Thailand, are meeting cement industry CEOs in Bangkok to discuss how to further advance the decarbonisation of the cement industry. Thailand’s Minister of Industry, Pimphattra Wichaikul, opened the conference.

Wichaikul said “Thailand is one of the first countries in the word with a credible national roadmap for delivering on the cement industry’s net zero commitments. Key to success is innovation, cross-sectorial cooperation, strong leadership with clear targets and international collaboration to drive policy and implementation.”

Fernando González, CEO of Cemex and President of the GCCA, said “We have strong commitments and are already delivering the goal of building a more sustainable industry, and by working with governments, policymakers, built environment experts and other key players we have the opportunity to accelerate our progress in this important ‘decade to deliver’.”

The UN’s Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) also unveiled a new package of investment, technical and other support, to help Thailand decarbonise its own cement industry.

Indonesia: The local government will begin using 'green' cement supplied by state-owned PT Semen Indonesia (SIG) in a bid to ensure sustainable construction in the new capital of Nusantara. This initiative will be a partnership to provide 'green' cement and cement-based products between SIG and PT Bina Karya, a state-owned company carrying out property development in Nusantara. Through 'green' cement production, the company has reportedly recorded a reduction in carbon emissions of up to 38% per tonne of cement so far.

SIG was chosen to supply materials for infrastructure development needs in Nusantara in December 2022. As of February 2024, the company has supplied 0.4Mt of cement from its production facilities in Balikpapan and Samarinda, near Nusantara.

PUPR Ministry’s secretary general, Mohammad Zainal Fatah, said "The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is seeking to encourage the supply of domestic industry-based material resources and construction equipment, which can support sustainable infrastructure development principles. SIG has the advantage of extensive production and distribution networks that are able to meet development needs in all regions in Indonesia.”

Thailand: B.Grimm Power has partnered with Siam City Cement (SCCC) to establish a joint venture named ‘Insee B.Grimm Solar.’ This collaboration aims to develop a solar rooftop project and a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) project within SCCC’s plant located in Saraburi province.

This project is expected to contribute to Thailand’s clean energy goals by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and integrating renewable energy sources into industrial operations. Specific details regarding the project’s capacity and timeline are not yet available.

Nigeria: Riga has announced its partnership with Lafarge Africa for a kiln shell replacement project in Nigeria. The project will take place at the Lafarge plant in Ewekoro, 64km from Lagos.

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is enforcing stricter measures against non-compliant cement importers to protect the local market from substandard products. The DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards recently made a suspension after it conducted a market surveillance in Iloilo as part of its intensified monitoring of cement imports entering the country. The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) praised the recent actions of the DTI against cement importers, arguing that there has been ‘excessive’ and ‘unfairly priced’ volume of imported cement in the country to the detriment of local manufacturers, according to The Philippine Star.

CeMAP said “This recent action of the DTI-BPS sends a resounding message that non-compliance and unfair trade practices will not be tolerated. The impact of the DTI’s actions extend beyond the cement industry itself. A strong and competitive local cement sector is vital in supporting the Philippines’ continued infrastructure development and economic growth.”

Spain: The Cemex plant in Alcanar has been granted €3m from the PERTE project for industrial decarbonisation, facilitated by the Ministry of Industry. This subsidy is part of a broader initiative involving 19 projects with a total aid of €96m under Line 1 of the programme. Cemex aims to contribute to decarbonisation of the clinker production process at its Alcanar facility by centralising compressed air production to enhance energy efficiency, replacing 14 old compressors with two more powerful and efficient units. The plant also plans to increase the use of alternative fuels in clinker production by integrating waste-derived and biomass fuels.

Ethiopia: The Lemi National Cement Factory is preparing to begin production within two months. Located in Amhara Regional State, 130km north of Addis Ababa, the plant will produce 6.4Mt/yr of cement, nearly doubling the nation's current production capacity. The plant represents a joint investment between Ethiopian and Chinese investors and according to 2Merkato News, is expected to become the largest cement plant in Africa.

India: In the fiscal year April 2023 to March 2024, Adani Group recorded a profit increase of 55% year-on-year to US$3.6bn from US$2.3bn. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 40% to US$7.9bn, although sales fell by 6%. Adani Group plans to spend US$90bn on capital expenditure over the next 10 years.

Egypt: Sinai Cement Company reported a consolidated net profit of US$6.4m for the first quarter of 2024, a turnaround from a net loss of US$1.2m in the same period last year. The company's net sales reached US$24.6m, down slightly from US$26.3m in the first quarter of 2023.

Spain: Cement consumption in Andalusia fell by 15% in the first quarter of 2024, to 0.67Mt, marking a decrease of 0.11Mt from the same quarter in 2023. The Cement Manufacturers Group of Andalusia (AFCA) attributes the significant 29% drop in March 2024 to the timing of Holy Week and heavy rainfall, which impacted construction activities. Exports of clinker and cement also decreased by 34.2%, with a volume of 97,609t in the first quarter of 2024. Over the last 12 months, consumption declined by 3.8% to 3.06Mt.

President of AFCA, Carmen Díaz Canabal, said "We will have to wait for the second quarter data to see the real evolution of the behaviour of the cement market, and therefore of construction, during this year."