Colombia: Cementos Argos will invest US$45m to strengthen its operations in Colombia, according to a press release on 22 April 2025. The investment will reportedly fund infrastructure modernisation, implementation of new technologies and ‘operational excellence’, with the goal of increasing efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability nationwide.

The president of parent company Grupo Argos previously revealed that around US$3bn would be invested in fixed-income securities in the US following its sale of a 31% stake in Summit Materials in February 2025. In the longer term, the company would evaluate investments in heavy building materials, logistics companies and aggregates in the US.

India: The Rural Development Department has signed a memorandum of understanding with ACC Cements to co-process non-recyclable plastic waste at its Barmana plant. The initiative will cover the Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts. The partnership follows similar agreements with Ambuja Cements and UltraTech Cements, and aims to reduce environmental pollution and landfill use through cement kiln co-processing.

Mexico: GCC has reported a 10% year-on-year decline in its net sales to US$247m in the first quarter of 2025, from US$273m a year earlier. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 11% to US$73.6m. US concrete volumes rose by 5%, as well as cement and concrete prices across the US and Mexico.

CEO Enrique Escalante said “Despite the challenges we faced during the first quarter, including adverse weather conditions and a dynamic global environment, the fundamentals of our business remain strong. As we move forward, we remain cautiously optimistic, supported by our ability to adapt quickly and leverage our competitive advantages to drive growth throughout the year.”

India: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a draft notification to establish India’s first compliance-based carbon market, according to The New Indian Express. The draft covers heavy industries such as cement, and lists 186 cement plants belonging to Ultratech Cement, Ambuja Cement, Dalmia Cement and others. These plants must cut greenhouse gas emission intensity (GEI) for two years, starting from the 2025–26 financial year under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 2023. Non-compliant producers must purchase carbon credit certificates, or failing this, face penalties from the Central Pollution Control Board. The draft will be finalised following a 60-day public consultation.

Russia: Siberian Cement’s (Sibcem) five cement plants produced 840,300t of cement in the first quarter of 2025, down by 5% year-on-year. The Topkinsky plant’s output fell by 10% to 346,500t, Iskitimcement by 9% to 210,200t, and Timlyuisky by 24% to 45,900t. Meanwhile, the Krasnoyarsk and Angarsk plants increased production by 10% and 21% to 128,600t and 109,200t respectively.

Vice president of Sibcem Gennady Rasskazov said “According to our calculations, in 2024 the capacity of the Siberian cement market decreased by 2% year-on-year, to 6.7Mt. Currently, demand continues to fall: in the first quarter of 2025, cement consumption in Siberia decreased by 4% year-on-year, and amounted to 1.08Mt. There is every reason to believe that negative trends will intensify in the future.”

Myanmar: A further 2400t of cement was delivered to Yangon Port on 20 April 2025, according to the Global Light of Myanmar newspaper. The government has permitted cement imports to meet rising demand during the open season and for post-earthquake resettlement works. Ships continue to bring cement into the country via the Kawthoung border, with further weekly deliveries scheduled. Three shipments of cement have already been delivered to Myanmar in April 2025.

Vietnam: VICEM Ha Tien Cement recorded a net loss of US$374m in the first quarter of 2025, down from US$952m a year earlier, despite an 11% rise in cement consumption and a 6% increase in revenues to US$61.2m, according to the Vietnam National Cement Association.

The company targets 5.83Mt of cement and 530,000t of clinker sales in 2025, aiming for US$276m in revenue and US$7.1m in profit, which it will reportedly achieve through tightening cost control and diversify output.

Saudi Arabia: Al Jouf Cement reported a net loss of US$7.39m in 2024, compared to a net profit of US$10.04m in 2023. Sales fell by 5% year-on-year to US$68.4m from US$71.8m in December 2023. In the nine months to 30 September 2024, net profit declined by 31% to US$8.17m.

Bahrain: New rules have placed strict demands on local producers and importers. A regulation signed by Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro requires all cement sold in Bahrain to meet BS EN 197-1 and GSO ASTM C150 standards and be circulated with a conformity certificate from the Bahrain Standards and Metrology Directorate. News of Bahrain has reported that there will be regular laboratory testing, specific storage and transport conditions, and penalties for non-compliance. The move reportedly marks a push to raise the standard of construction materials.

Pakistan: Fauji Cement has launched a 26MW Ashar Navaid Solar Park at its Nizampur plant. The new solar facility will generate an average of 41,600MW/yr of renewable electricity.