Displaying items by tag: Distribution

India: JK Cement has agreed a partnership with Vakrangee to sell cement through the Vakrangee Kendra network. The franchise provides a range of services including banking, insurance, commerce and government services from over 21,000 locations in 32 states and union territories. Many of the outlets provide digital services in so-called ‘underserved’ rural, semi-urban and urban locales.

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies (HGCT) has signed a partnership deal with Point.P. Under the terms of the agreement, HGCT’s clinker-free cement products will be distributed to Point.P’s ready-mixed concrete (RMC) and batching plants. Point.P is aiming to reduce its CO₂ emissions linked to the use of cement it uses in ready-mix concrete, concrete blocks and precast elements, by 35% by 2030.

Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann, co-founders of HGCT, said "We're delighted with this partnership with a major player like Point P. This is a major step forward for the marketing of our clinker-free low-carbon cements.”

France-based Saint-Gobain Building Distribution France, a subsidiary of the Saint-Gobain, is a distributor of building materials. Its main brands include Point.P, Cedeo, Asturienne, PUM, SFIC, La Plateforme du Bâtiment, Dispano, Panofrance, Clim+ and CDL Elec. It has a network of over 2000 sales outlets throughout France.

Nepal/India: Chaudhary Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a strategic partnership with India-based conglomerate Adani Group. According to the MoU, Adani Group will support the Nepal-based cement producer in its distribution of cement into neighbouring states of India.

The Kathmandu Post newspaper has reported that Chaudhary Group’s managing director Varun Chaudhary said "This collaborative effort stands as a pivotal milestone, underlining our commitment to augmenting economic cooperation and trade relations between the two nations.” He added “Through this strategic collaboration, we aspire to fortify the harmonious rapport that characterises the Nepal-India relationship, while actively contributing to the growth and development of the adjoining states."

India: Ambuja Cements and its subsidiary ACC have transitioned to reporting their results in line with the (April - March) Indian financial year. As such, they have published 15-month results for 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. During the period, Ambuja Cements reported sales of US$4.75bn, up by 34% year-on-year from US$3.53bn. Its cement volumes rose by 28% to 68Mt, while its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 11% to US$714m. Meanwhile, ACC recorded sales of US$2.71bn, up by 38% from US$1.97bn in 2021. Its cement volumes rose by 31% to 37.9Mt, while its EBITDA fell by 30% to US$275m.

ACC announced its goal to become India's 'most profitable cement company.' To realise this, the company will implement a three-pronged strategy of capacity expansion, efficiency improvements and development of its distributor and dealer network. Under the capacity expansion heading, the producer will double its production capacity through the construction of new cement plants and the expansion of existing ones. In this, it will lay special emphasis on securing supplies of renewable energy and supplementary cementitious materials, including fly ash from its own power plant segment. The company noted that it recently secured access to 1Bnt-worth of new limestone reserves in Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka and Rajasthan. It will also seek to increase its coal production to avoid the rising cost of imports.

In the 2024 financial year, the government of India plans to invest US$11.4bn in the construction of new housing, roads and sanitation infrastructure nationally. Ambuja Cements has forecast an increase in domestic cement consumption of 6 - 8% to over 390Mt/yr. It expects Indian cement production to rise by 8 - 10% year-on-year to 390Mt in the 2024 financial year.

US: Heidelberg Materials North America will inaugurate its new 2.4Mt/yr Mitchell cement plant in Indiana on 13 June 2023. The plant cost US$600m to build and is Heidelberg Materials' 'most technologically advanced and sustainable' cement plant, according to the company. It includes a 32,000t/yr cement terminal, served by a newly renovated rail depot. Heidelberg Materials North America has commissioned 1000 new rail cars to assist in efficient distribution of cement produced at the Mitchell plant.

US: Eagle Materials has completed its acquisition of Martin Marietta's cement import and distribution business in Northern California. The business is centred on the Stockton cement terminal in San Joaquin County. Eagle Materials hopes that the new business will enable it to extend and strengthen its reach across its heartland US cement sales network.

President and chief executive officer Michael Haack said "Our Nevada Cement operations have long-standing customer relationships in Northern California, and this acquisition will uniquely position us to better serve these and new customers with complementary imported product. Our entire cement system is currently 'sold out,' and this acquisition will enable us to more actively participate in the strong US demand environment."

Philippines: Germany-based TÜV Nord has awarded three ISO certificates to Philcement Corporation's Bataan cement bagging plant and distribution centre in Mariveles. The facility achieved an ISO 9001:2015 for quality management, an ISO 45001:2018 for occupational health and safety management and an ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management.

Philcement Corporation, a subsidiary of PHINMA Corporation, previously secured a loan towards an upgrade to the Bataan terminal in September 2022.

Chair Ramon del Rosario Junior said “As we continue to provide a reliable and consistent supply of cement products of good quality, these ISO certifications attest to PHINMA, Philcement and our partners’ expertise in this industry. These give us even greater confidence in our operations and especially in the products that we offer our customers."

Philippines: Century Peak Cement Manufacturing has started distributed its cement products to the Visayas region. Its blended hydraulic and ordinary Portland cement product received quality standard certification from the Department of Trade and Industry in January 2023.

Century Peak Cement operates a plant at Pinamungajan in Cebu with associated limestone reserves. The unit has its own pier.

Australia: Adbri has extended Independent Cement and Lime (ICL)'s contract to exclusively distribute its products to the New South Wales and Victoria markets. ICL is a 50% subsidiary of Adbri. Volumes under the renewed contract will be similar to those during 2022, while prices will reflect market conditions. Adbri said that ICL distributes a 'substantial' proportion of the cement produced at its Birkenhead cement plant in South Australia.

Adbri's interim chief executive officer Mark Irwin said “Independent Cement and Lime is Victoria’s pre-eminent cementitious products distributor and is an important part of Adbri’s supply chain across Victoria and New South Wales. We are pleased to extend our distribution arrangement with ICL through to the end of 2023. We look forward to the commissioning in 2023 of the Melbourne cement facility’s new 45,000t silo at Port Melbourne, which will enhance Independent Cement and Lime’s ability to service the Victorian market.”

Adbri had previously considered buying Barro Group's cement assets, which included the remaining 50% stake in Independent Cement and Lime, in 2018.

Ethiopia: State media outlet EBC has reported on a 'clandestine cement trading network' in Addis Ababa. Cement prices are subject to a nationwide cap of US$112/t until the end of 2022. EBC has reported that illicit cement traders in parts of Addis Ababa were selling cement for US$373/t on 20 December 2022. In the same parts of the city, retailers reportedly said that they were out of stock of cement. Local media has alleged that cement distributors have intentionally created cement shortages.