Displaying items by tag: Distribution

India: Kaushalya Logistics has commenced operations at its new depot in Amritsar, Punjab, Reuters has reported. The facility will serve JK Cement’s regional distribution operations.

Finland/Germany: Tana Oy has entered a strategic partnership with Veneto Schwenter for the distribution of Tana Oy shredders in Germany. The collaboration will enhance Veneto Schwenter's portfolio of sales, rental and consulting services in manufacturing equipment, alongside machine service and repairs.

Egypt: Starting in October 2024, the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources will centralise distribution of mazut to cement plants to ensure continued operations amidst the country's power shortages. Deputy PM Kamel El Wazir announced the plan, responding to requests from cement producers for a reliable fuel supply to maintain the stable production and distribution of cement.

Cement plants are required to submit a report on quarry material prices over the past three years, highlighting price increases and their impact on the industry. The Cement Division of the Building Materials Industry Chamber also requested consistent export support payments, the extension of investor rights to quarry resources, and the testing of pozzolanic cement for standard compliance.

Spain: Holcim Spain has absorbed its subsidiary, Cementos Esfera, which distributes cement from a facility in the port of Tarragona. The site includes 32,467m² of covered space on a 54,113m² plot, with a production capacity of 500,000t/yr and silos for storing 20,000t of product. Since 2013, the industry has functioned primarily as a cement distribution centre and concrete producer, sourcing supplies from Holcim's integrated plants in Sagunto and Montcada y Reixach.

Philippines: Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) has entered into a joint venture with Philcement to construct a dedicated berth for cement and cementitious material shipments in Davao, reports Port Calls magazine. It will oversee the construction of a 200-metre bulk terminal at berth five. Construction will commence in November 2024 and operation is expected by mid-2026. The terminal is valued at US$12.5m and will handle 2Mt/yr of cement for distribution across Mindanao, with shipping to other parts of the country being considered. Additional equipment and construction costs for a cement terminal are estimated at around US$41m.

US: Dragon Products reportedly plans to lay off six employees at its Thomaston, Maine, cement plant later in 2024, in the plant’s on-going transition from cement production to distribution only. This will reduce the plant’s total employees to 20, down by 76% from 85 at the start of the year. Local press has reported that rising operating costs, including for energy and transport, led to the move.

The Thomaston plant continues to process ‘residual’ raw materials and has begun implementation of its new distribution strategy, taking delivery of 30,000t of bagged cement via the port of Searsport. A second delivery is scheduled for October 2024.

Russia: Belarusian Cement Company (BCC) increased its cement supplies to the Russian Federation by 3.5% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, and by 50% in June 2024, reports Belta News. Major sales markets for BCC in Russia include Moscow, Moscow Oblast, the Central Federal District and the North-Western Federal District.

Vyacheslav Golovatsky, deputy director general for foreign economic activities, credited the growth in foreign cement sales to logistics. He said “We did a lot of work in 2023. We created a commodity distribution network, BCC-Soyuz, which has its own cement transshipment facilities. When there were difficulties with cement delivery in late 2023 – early 2024, logistics came into play. We started routing deliveries, launching our own trains that consisted of our own cars. In March 2024, our first route train went to Russia, in May 2024 we had already 12 BCC route trains, and in June 2024 - 15. Our products have been delivered to transshipment facilities, unloaded and distributed to consumers more promptly.”

Comoros: Cimentos Comores is considering finding temporary sources of bagged cement after its regular bulk deliveries via the Port of Moroni, Grand Comore, became disrupted. Al-Watwan News has reported that a malfunctioning landing buoy has prevented cargo ships from landing at the port.

Cimentos Comores said “In the absence of a technical solution, we will be forced to cancel the operations.”

Russia: Belarusian Cement has concluded a deal with the Moscow regional government to build a logistics facility in the region at Naro-Fominsk. Prime Press News has reported that the facility will cost US$22.5m. It will be equipped with ready-mix concrete, precast concrete and dry mix plants, as well as a rail terminal, storage areas and loading zones for despatches by road.

Director General Alexander Dovgalo said "This investment will not only bolster our logistics capabilities but also enhance our service quality for Russian partners and extend our market reach within Russia and the CIS member states."

Australia: Adbri has concluded a new interim arrangement with Independent Cement and Lime (ICL), extending ICL’s existing exclusive cement distribution contract from 1 March – 30 June 2024. ICL is a joint venture of Adbri and Barro Group.