Displaying items by tag: GCW217
BUA Group to double capacity and expand across Africa
07 September 2015Nigeria: Nigerian conglomerate BUA Group has signed US$600m worth of contracts with China's Sinoma International Engineering Co. to double capacity at its flagship cement plant as it seeks to expand market share in Africa's biggest economy.
BUA plans to double the capacity of its Obu cement plant which currently has a capacity of 3.5Mt/yr, with completion expected in 2017. The contract was signed at Sinomas offices in China.
Executive chairman Abdulsamad Rabiu said, "BUA has less than 10% of the market share now but afterwards we should go to about 20%. Rabiu said that BUA, like Nigeria's largest cement producer Dangote Cement, was planning a continent-wide expansion.
Ras Al Khaimah Cement reports lower first half profit
07 September 2015UAE: Ras Al Khaimah Cement Company has reported a decline in its net profit for the first half of 2015 to US$0.67m from US$0.86m in the same period of 2014.
Lucky mine expansion
04 September 2015Pakistan: Lucky Cement is close to winning a permit to extract limestone in Punjab province, signaling expansion plans by the nation's largest maker of the building material. An agreement is expected to be signed in the next few days, according to Arshad Mehmood, secretary for Punjab's mines and minerals department.
Lucky Cement is the third cement producer in Pakistan to have announced expansions after Attock Cement and D G Khan Cement earlier acted on signs that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is looking to boost infrastructure spending. "Everything is positive for construction," said Bilal Khan, analyst at Karachi-based Global Securities Pakistan. "If growth stays at the same pace, those who decide to expand today are the winners."
Shree Cement to set up 2.8Mt/yr plant
04 September 2015India: Shree Cement is setting up a 2.8Mt/yr cement plant at Sikandrabad in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. The plant will also include a 18MW captive power plant.
Reliance Cement sells online
04 September 2015India: Reliance Cement Company has announced that it will start to sell cement online. Atul Desai, Chief Marketing Officer of the company, said, "With this move, Reliance Cement has become one of the first e-commerce cement companies in India. In line with our consistent efforts to provide superior product and services to our customers, e-retailing is the latest next-generation customer friendly initiative."
The 'e-retailing' facility is available for a minimum order of 25 bags that will be delivered to the customer within 48 hours. Desai said that Reliance Cement has emerged as a premium brand in major cities of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Initially, the 'e-retailing' facility will be available in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
HeidelbergCement disposes of German lime businesses
03 September 2015Germany: HeidelbergCement has completed the disposal of its lime business in Germany to the Belgian Lhoist Group. Both companies agreed not to disclose any details about the transaction.
The HeidelbergCement assets comprised two lime plants in Germany, the Walhalla Kalkwerk in Regensburg, Bavaria and Kalkwerk Istein in Istein, Baden-Württemberg. Both lime plants were modernised in recent years with modern kiln technology. They generated a turnover of about Euro45m in 2014 and employed approximately 180 people.
Ghana Cement Manufacturing Association approves of import tax rise
03 September 2015Ghana: The Ghana Cement Manufacturing Association (GCMA) has approved of a government customs decision to increase the cost and freight value of imported bagged cement into the country. The valuation of Freight on Board (FOB) for the import of bagged cement has been increased to US$60/t from US$25/t, according to GCMA Chairman and Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghacem, George Dawson-Ahmoah.
"We are appealing to international cement manufacturing companies who know the international cement market trade to abide by fair trade practices to safeguard the industry, because it has consequences like workers losing their jobs, lower taxes to the government and folding-up of local cement companies — which would be disastrous for the nation," said Dawson-Ahmoah to local media.
Dawson-Ahmoah said that the GCMA was not expecting any value less than US$80/t to cover cost and freight of imported cement from China to Ghana. He added that the country's local cement industry has a 2Mt/yr surplus of cement production capacity following expansion projects. Since lobbying the government on this issue the GCMA has been monitoring movement of imported bagged cement and will continue to insist on fair trade practices.
Grupo de Oro and LafargeHolcim launch Holcim Fuerte brand in Mexico
03 September 2015Mexico: Grupo de Oro and LafargeHolcim Mexico have strengthened their strategic partnership with the launch of Holcim Fuerte branded cement in 2015. The development of the new product commenced in 2012 and has been tested in different projects prior to its commercialisation. The new cement is targeted for builders laying foundations and reinforcing walls and beams, according to Quadratin.