China: Huaxin Cement’s revenue fell by 6% year-on-year to US$4.43bn in 2022 from US$4.72bn in 2021. Its net profit decreased by 50% to US$393m from US$780m. Its sales volumes of cement and clinker declined by 20% to 75.3Mt and concrete sales volumes nearly doubled to 16.4Mm³. Despite flat cement demand the company expects a general domestic economic improvement, real estate market reforms and a focus on infrastructure to improve its fortunes in 2023.

During the reporting period the subsidiary of Switzerland-based Holcim started operating a 3000t/day production line at Nepal Narayani in early 2022 and commenced the second stage of a project to build a 4000t/day clinker line at Maweni in Tanzania in July 2022. Preparation work for a new clinker line project in Malawi also began. The company added that it has completed the investment and verification for ten additional projects in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere in preparation of future business expansion. Overall, 13% of the group’s operating revenue derived from business outside of China in 2022 compared to 8% in 2021.

China: China Tianrui Group Cement reported a year-on-year decline in its sales during 2022. The group recorded sales of US$1.61bn, down by 15% from US$1.85bn. Its net profit was US$65.1m, down by 63% from US$174m.

Saudi Arabia: Southern Province Cement says that it has finished reviewing submissions for a contract to build a new line at its Jazan cement plant, and is now drafting and reviewing the contract to sign with its chosen contractor. The new line will have a capacity of 10,000t/day and will replace existing production lines.

Southern Province Cement recorded sales of US$357m in 2022, down by 9% year-on-year from US$325m in 2021. The company said that its operating expenses rose, while its cement volumes and selling prices fell. Its profit dropped by 30% to US$80.2m from US$114m.

India: Ramco Cements has accepted bids worth US$60.9m for bonds maturing in four years, in four years and six months and in five years. Reuters has reported that the two shorter maturity bonds are each worth US$18.2m, while the five-year maturity bond is worth US$24.3m.

Tanzania: Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) plans to expand the capacity of the 54,000t/yr port of Kasanga on Lake Tanganyika in Rukwa Region. Mbeya Cement Company exports 42,000t/yr of cement via its terminal at the port to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. The port has been undergoing a US$1.92m upgrade to raise its berths due to rising water levels in Lake Tanganyika since April 2019.

The port of Kasanga generates revenues of US$34,200/yr for the TPA, primarily from Mbeya Cement Company’s export operations.

India: Malabar cement has announced the launch of a new dry mix for plastering buildings. The Hindu newspaper has reported that the mix consists of dried sand and cement. It is available in 40kg bags.

UK: Hanson says it has become one of the first companies in the UK to be certified to the new ISO 19443 standard, for companies supplying products and services that are important to nuclear safety. The subsidiary of Germany-based Heidelberg Materials is a supplier to the nuclear sector and is currently working with three of the delivery teams on the Hinkley Point C (HPC) project.

Stewart Cameron, head of nuclear at Hanson UK said “It has taken our HPC team a year to complete the ISO 19443 process.” He added, “Although it is not a requirement for our supplies to the project, it recognises the efforts we make – and helps others understand – why nuclear needs to be different.”

Germany: Intercem Engineering is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary on 14 April 2023. The group was originally founded over 50 years ago when it started by selling used machines to the cement industry. Anther subsidiary, Intercem Installation, was founded in 2007.

At present, Intercem Group consists of Intercem Engineering, Intercem Installation, both based in Oelde in Germany, and Intercem Cement, based in Zug in Switzerland. The company’s production plant is also located in Oelde. The three companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Switzerland-based Intercem Holding. The group currently employs around 50 people, mainly engineers and technicians.

Intercem offers services in cement plant construction from a single source. This ranges from individual components to upgrades of existing plants up to complete cement plants. It exports around 80% of its services with its main sales markets in West Africa, France, Sweden and Germany.

China: Anhui Conch Cement plans to invest US$2.81bn in capital expenditure (CAPEX) throughout 2023. The investments will go towards building new capacity, upgrading to new technologies and increasing plants' energy efficiency. The Morning Star newspaper has reported that the producer currently faces high energy costs, against a backdrop of reduced cement demand.

Anhui Conch Cement recorded sales of US$19.2bn in 2022, down by 21% year-on-year from US$24.4n in 2021.

China: West China Cement recorded US$1.23bn in sales in 2022, up by 6% year-on-year from US$1.16bn in 2021. The producer's profit dropped by 23% to US$176m from US$230m.

Looking to the 2023 full year, West China Cement said that it expects demand in Guizhou and Xinjiang Provinces to 'remain subdued.' It noted upcoming infrastructure projects in Shaanxi Province as a source of substantial demand, but overall does not expect significant demand growth there. Meanwhile in Mozambique, the group expects its performance to remain unchanged.