France: Cement producer Eqiom has inaugurated a €2.5m pilot station for the continuous injection of alternative fuels at its Rochefort-sur-Nenon plant. The new facility enables the injection of wood fines - treated wood residues sourced from local sawmills - directly into the kiln at a rate of 5000t/yr.

The facility has reduced its coal use from 30,000t/yr to 8000t/yr. Currently, more than 70% of the plant’s kiln fuel comes from alternative sources, with the site now targeting 80%. Since the 1990s, the plant has successively used liquid chemical waste, animal meal and solid recovered fuels (SRF), which together accounted for 50,000t in 2024. Eqiom is also developing new cement types with lower clinker content by incorporating more pozzolans, as part of its broader decarbonisation efforts.

Pierre Bernard, Eqiom’s head of cement manufacturing, noted that national cement production fell from 20Mt/yr in 2022 to 15Mt/yr in 2024, equivalent to 1960 levels, due to a decline in construction activity.

Spain: Cemex has signed a collaboration agreement with Enagás, through its subsidiary Scale Green Energy, to develop logistics solutions for the maritime transport of captured CO₂ from cement production, aiming to accelerate industrial decarbonisation. The partnership will explore options for transporting captured CO₂ via pipeline. It includes developing a full CO₂ value chain, from capture at Cemex facilities to maritime shipment in liquefied form aboard a new vessel designed by Scale Green Energy, to eventual delivery to a licensed storage site in southern Europe. Scale Green Energy plans to design a next-generation vessel with a capacity of 20,000m³ for the transport of liquefied CO₂, enabling flexible and efficient transport to multiple Mediterranean storage hubs.

Jesús Saldaña, general manager of business development and investee companies at Enagás, said “This alliance to develop comprehensive logistics for the maritime transport of captured CO₂ represents an opportunity for Enagás and Cemex to jointly lead innovation to help decarbonise the industry, boosting its competitiveness, and for Spain to play a leading role in achieving the European Commission's goal of capturing 50Mt of CO₂ by 2030.”

Benjamín Cabrera, director of cement and technology operations at Cemex Spain, added “To advance the decarbonisation of the cement industry, it is essential to develop large-scale logistics solutions that allow us to manage large volumes of CO₂ safely, efficiently, and competitively. This agreement lays the foundations for a pioneering infrastructure that will connect Cemex plants in Spain with the main storage hubs in the Mediterranean.”

Vietnam: Industry leaders have argued that co-processing of non-recyclable plastic waste in cement kilns could be a scalable solution to advance Vietnam’s sustainability and circular economy goals. At a workshop held in Hanoi on 2 October 2025, the Norwegian Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy, in partnership with the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA), concluded the OPTOCE Project (‘Ocean Plastic Turned into an Opportunity in Circular Economy’), funded by the Norwegian government.

Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken said “Combating marine plastics and climate change is a top priority for Norway – both globally and in Vietnam. Through OPTOCE, we’ve seen how science-based solutions like co-processing can transform plastic waste into a resource that benefits the climate, the economy and communities.”

OPTOCE was originally launched as a regional initiative in five countries, including Vietnam, and later expanded to eight countries across Asia. The workshop featured several presentations and a panel discussion focusing on the legal framework, potential waste supplies, and the practices and challenges in implementing co-processing in Vietnam.

Dr Kåre Helge Karstensen, chief scientist and programme manager of OPTOCE, added that the initiative has proven co-processing to be both technically feasible and environmentally sound. “The next step is to move beyond pilots and integrate this solution into national policy frameworks to drive systemic change,” he said.

Dr Lương Đức Long, VNCA vice president, said Vietnam’s cement industry is already applying co-processing successfully. “Co-processing waste in cement kilns is a safe and effective solution. We hope the government introduces specific policies and incentives that support enterprises and technology transfer. If we join forces, co-processing will turn wastes into ‘black gold’ and cement factories into ideal co-processing hubs,” he said.

Vietnam’s cement plants, including INSEE’s Hon Chong facility in Kien Giang and Lam Thach Green Cement (QNC)’s plant in the north, have piloted this approach since 2021, achieving thermal substitution rates of 35–40%.

Russia: CEMROS has inaugurated a new cement terminal in Novocheboksarsk, located on the cargo berth of the Cheboksary river port. The facility is designed to handle up to 50,000t/yr. Supplies to the terminal will be routed from CEMROS’s Sengileevsky branch in the Ulyanovsk region. By using river logistics, the company aims to ensure direct deliveries from plant to consumer, reduce reliance on road and rail during peak seasons, and maintain stable cement prices. The terminal will primarily serve enterprises in the Chuvash Republic and Mari El Republic which are engaged in major infrastructure projects. Test operations at the terminal are set to begin shortly, with full capacity expected to be achieved by the start of April 2026.

“The terminal expands the port’s capabilities and strengthens its position as the region’s logistics hub. It’s an investment in the republic’s infrastructure and an additional resource for the construction industry,” said Vanifatiy Shaikin, general director of the Cheboksary port.

Denis Nazarov, director of procurement and logistics at CEMROS, said “We are creating a sustainable supply chain and a network of river cement terminals that reduce delivery distances and guarantee consumers direct access to our products. River transport in the Volga-Kama basin offers enormous potential to efficiently supply construction materials to key regions.”

Vietnam: Cement production reached 137Mt in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 15% year-on-year increase, according to data from the National Statistics Office (NSO).

In September 2025, output totalled 16.2Mt, up by 28% compared to the same month in 2024. The NSO’s revised figures show that Vietnam produced 184Mt of cement in 2024, a 3.5% increase year-on-year.

Argentina: Cement dispatches in September 2025 reached 0.92Mt, a 0.5% increase compared to September 2024 and up by 3% from August 2025, according to data from the AFCP. Domestic shipments in September 2025 totalled 0.92Mt, while exports amounted to 5166t. Cumulative cement deliveries from January to September 2025 reached 7.5Mt, representing a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Pakistan: Flying Cement reported a profit after tax of US$2.27m for the year ending 30 June 2025, a sharp rise from US$0.18m in the 2024 financial year. Net sales more than doubled to US$39.8m, supported by strong volume growth and favourable market conditions. Gross profit increased to US$6m, while operating profit rose to US$4.2m from US$0.65m the previous year.

Mexico: Cemex has completed the sale of its operations in Panama to Dominican-Republic based industrial conglomerate Grupo Estrella for an enterprise value of approximately US$200m. The divested assets include a 1.2Mt/yr capacity cement plant in Calzada Larga, Chilibre, along with related ready-mix, aggregates operations, and rights to acquire additional reserves. Cemex has increased its holdings to a majority stake in US-based Couch Aggregates, using a small portion of the Panama sale proceeds to offset the EBITDA impact from the divestment.

“These transactions are important building blocks in our strategy to rebalance our portfolio and continue investing in growth in priority markets,” said Jaime Muguiro, CEO of Cemex.

UK: Environment consultancy Arup has been appointed by Peak Cluster to lead the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and prepare the technical documentation for the development consent order (DCO) for the Peak Cluster project. Around 40% of all the UK’s cement and lime is produced across Derbyshire and Staffordshire, according to Arup, supporting over 2000 jobs but emitting more than 3Mt/yr of CO₂.

To address this challenge, Peak Cluster will develop carbon capture facilities at cement and lime production plants operated by Tarmac, Buxton Lime, Breedon, and Holcim. The captured CO₂ will be transported via a proposed underground pipeline to Spirit Energy’s planned geological storage site, Morecambe Net Zero (MNZ), for permanent storage.

Supported by AECOM and Quod, Arup will oversee the delivery of the EIA and DCO, covering the consenting of the proposed pipeline and the carbon capture facilities, including a detailed assessment of environmental effects on the surrounding areas during both construction and operation. The evaluation will also consider the interface with Spirit Energy’s offshore infrastructure for CO₂ storage.

Richard Lowe, director of energy consenting and development at Arup, said “We are delighted to be playing such a key role in the development of this transformative project, in which the UK National Wealth Fund has invested, and to build on our deep involvement from its earliest stages. Peak Cluster is working to secure a sustainable future for the UK cement and lime industry and act as a blueprint for similar developments across Europe and the rest of the world.”

John Egan, CEO of Peak Cluster, added “Peak Cluster is focused on securing a sustainable future for the cement and lime industry. Together with MNZ, the UK’s biggest carbon store, we will capture, transport and store CO₂ to help the industry thrive in a low-carbon future. This essential infrastructure will secure good jobs with good wages, produce sought-after low-carbon products here in Britain, grow the UK’s supply chain and skills base, secure private investment and lead the global low-carbon technology sector.”

Germany: Rohrdorfer has inaugurated a new pilot plant for tempered clays at its Rohrdorf cement facility in a ceremony attended by regional and state officials. They included Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Ministry of the Interior Daniela Ludwig, who cut the ribbon alongside Rohrdorfer managing director Mike Edelmann.

The pilot plant has been operational since July 2025 and activates up to 50t/day of raw clay through thermal treatment. Tempered clays can replace clinker in cement, reportedly helping to cut emissions by around 30%, according to the company. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the EU, and will receive up to €8.65m in funding.

Daniela Ludwig said “With this new plant, the Rohrdorf cement plant is once again proving that it is one of the most innovative companies in our region. Decarbonising the cement industry is a key task if Germany is to achieve its climate goals as planned.”

By the end of 2026, Rohrdorfer’s Net Zero Emission team will determine the optimal composition of raw clays and refine the thermal treatment process, paving the way for a large-scale facility capable of achieving up to 60% CO₂ reductions.

Mike Edelmann said “We’ve achieved a lot within our plants, but our influence ends at the factory gates. The lack of planning security regarding CO₂ transport and storage, uncompetitive electricity prices and an uncertain mining landscape are holding us back. We urgently need more support from policymakers if climate targets are to be met.”