Portugal: The Portuguese Competition Authority has approved Taiwan Cement Corporation (TCC)’s outright acquisition of Cimpor. Jingshi News has reported that TCC received the approval on 1 February 2024, enabling it to proceed with its acquisition of the outstanding 60% stake in Cimpor.

World: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has signed a new agreement with the China Cement Association (CCA). The agreement constitutes an historic ‘partnership pledge’ to accelerate cement decarbonisation globally in 2024 – 2026. The partners says that their collaboration will contribute to the development and launch of the upcoming China Cement Carbon Neutrality Roadmap. Equipment supplier Sinoma International Engineering and the European Cement Research Academy (ECRA) will also help to develop the roadmap. The GCCA previously launched its own global net zero roadmap in 2021. Together, GCCA and CCA members account for 90% of global cement production in capacity terms.

GCCA CEO Thomas Guillot, said “The world needs leadership and collaboration like never before, especially on addressing the key issue of our time, climate change. This agreement between the China industry and the global industry is a signal to the world that we stand ready to deliver the essential decarbonised building materials that our planet needs. Cement and concrete enable the key infrastructure, thriving and resilient communities, clean water, safe homes and the shift to clean energy that are essential to a future sustainable world.”

CCA Executive president Kong Xiangzhong said “This important agreement marks a win-win cooperation, and shows where we can collaborate effectively to bring insights, technical know-how and greater focus to our shared decarbonisation mission. I am sure this will create a mutually-beneficial and long-term partnership that will be crucial in building a more sustainable world.”

Japan: Tokuyama Corporation reported sales of US$1.7bn in the first nine months of the 2024 financial year. This represents a 3.3% year-on-year drop from nine-month levels in the previous financial year. The company sold 2.42Mt of cement, and exported 460,000t (19%) of this to foreign markets. Tokuyama Corporation now expects to sell 3.2Mt of cement and export 600,000t in the full 2024 financial year. As a result, the company’s cement business contributed US$345m in sales in the first nine months of the financial year, up by 16% year-on-year.

US: US cement plants produced 91Mt of cement in 2023, according to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). This corresponds to a year-on-year decline of 2.2% from 93Mt in 2022. The figure places the US in fourth globally in cement production volumes, behind China with 2.1Bnt (in line with 2022 levels), India with 410Mt (up by 7.9% year-on-year) and Vietnam with 110Mt (down by 8.3%).

India: The Indian Enforcement Directorate has conducted searches at locations associated with The India Cements. The directorate is seeking evidence of alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Business Today Online News has reported that the current scope of suspected violations totals US$30 – 36m.

India Cements has yet to comment on the investigation.

Mexico: GCC’s consolidated sales rose by 17% to US$1.36bn in 2023. The group raised its sales by 30% in Mexico and by 12% in the US, with its regional cement volumes rising by 2.2% and 5.2% respectively. GCC’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) also grew, by 31%, to US$472m.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Enrique Escalante said "GCC had an outstanding performance during 2023, achieving year-on-year growth in both top and bottom line. Our record-breaking financial performance was driven by strong client relationships and operational excellence." Looking to 2024, Escalante added "Our focus on executing strategic initiatives and enhancing competitive advantages will fortify our margins, aligning our vision for continued success with our commitment to sustainability."

India: Nuvoco Vistas recorded revenues of US$943m in the first nine months of the 2024 financial year (1 April – 31 December 2023). This represents a rise of 2% year-on-year from the corresponding period of the previous financial year. This enabled Nuvoco Vistas to turn a positive net income, of US$5.66m, compared to a loss of US$22.3m one year previously. Premium products constituted 1.45Mt (36%) of the producer’s total third-quarter cement sales of 4.02Mt. Nuvoco Vistas ended 2023 with 25Mt/yr in installed production capacity, making it India’s fifth largest cement producer.

Managing director Jayakumar Krishnaswamy said “Despite the challenging demand environment, the company continues to deliver strong growth in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). During the third quarter of the 2024 financial year, we achieved the highest EBITDA per tonne in 10 quarters, a testament to our operational excellence, focussing on cost efficiency and value-led growth.”

India: Nuvoco Vistas has commissioned a 1.2Mt/yr cement mill at its Haryana Bhiwani cement plant in Haryana. This expansion will help Nuvoco Vistas to raise its production volumes in Northern India and to diversify its product offering.

Managing director Jayakumar Krishnaswamy said “We are set to seize the opportunities. We continue to emphasise quality and innovation, and secure a larger market share in the North while retaining our leadership position in the East. On the ready-mix concrete end of the value chain, we have also commissioned five new plants in the current fiscal, bringing our total to 56 plants pan-India.”

Denmark: FLSmidth has discussed its decision to sell FLSmidth Cement. The company said that the cement and mining industries it serves have diverged, along with the appropriate operating models which best serve them. The continuing combination of FLSmidth Cement and FLSmidth’s mining business now presents ‘more operational friction than benefit.’ The supplier took ‘careful consideration’ of the best interests of all parties affected by the separation.

FLSmidth built its first cement plant in 1887, and pioneered the use of optimisation software in 1969. The FLSmidth Cement digital leadership team will now focus on delivering cement-specific smart and connected services for its customers.

FLSmidth Cement president Christopher Ashworth said “We have proven our ability to embrace change, and the prospect of new ownership will be no different. Working together as a team, we will ensure continued success by staying focused on our customers. Furthermore, our core mission remains: driving the green transition with both new technologies and helping existing plants optimise their operations.” Ashworth added “FLSmidth made its name as a full flowsheet provider of cement plants. It is a history that we value and will continue to build on. But today’s cement market is a vastly different world with vastly different challenges than what has gone before. It therefore requires a different operating paradigm that moves away from a projects-based approach to focus on specific products and services. The pure play strategy thus frees us to adapt to the specific market challenges facing our industry and prioritise the supply of core offerings. The prospect of operating under new ownership only reinforces our current transition.”

Kyrgyzstan: The state-owned Bishkek heat and power plant has secured a US$437,000 contract to supply its waste ash and slag to two cement plants in Kemin, Chüy Region. The cement producers party to the contract will be responsible for extraction and transport, commencing in August 2024.

The Bishkek heat and power plant has previously invested US$280,000 in clearing its waste dump. The government says that it has also received interest from a China-based autoclave aerated concrete blocks producer in its waste.