Displaying items by tag: Philippines

Philippines: Cemex Philippines Solid Cement plant in Antipolo has lifted a new rotary kiln into position as part of a US$235m installation of a new production line at the site. Once complete the new line will add 1.5Mt/yr to the unit’s production capacity increasing the total to 3.4Mt/yr. The new production line will reuse waste hot gases to dry raw materials and high efficiency bag filters reduce improve emissions control. Cemex is also using its proprietary Low Temperature Clinker technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

"This milestone demonstrates our full commitment to the development of the country and brings us closer to further strengthening our position in providing the infrastructure and building needs for economic development," said Ignacio Mijares, the chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Cemex Holdings Philippines.

China-based CBMI Construction has been contracted to build the new line. It lifted the new kiln in two days. Tong Laigou, chairman and general manager of CBMI Construction, said that the CBMI and Cemex Philippines' teams worked under strict protocols to secure the safety of the site.

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) plans to establish a new cement testing facility. The Philippine News Agency has reported that the department has made an allocation in its 2021 budget for the facility.

DTI Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) Catajay said “For setting up a testing facility for cement by BPS, our target is to finish within the first half of 2021. Our procurement of equipment is on-going, so that we can conduct testing in the third quarter of 2021.”

The Philippines presently has two cement testing facilities.

Indonesia: Semen Indonesia subsidiary Semen Padang’s cement and clinker exports totalled 1.6Mt in 2020. Indonesia Government News has reported that the company said that it exported 0.2Mt of cement and 1.4Mt of clinker throughout the year. The main markets for its products were Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Australia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Semen Indonesia group senior export sales manager Fifit Abriyanto said, “There are two types of cement that we export, namely ordinary Portland cement (OPC) Type I grade 52.5N and OPC Type I grade 42.5N."

Philippines: Holcim Philippines has partnered with mixed-martial arts organization ONE Championship and its heavyweight world champion, Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera, for a marketing campaign. The ‘Built to Excel’ campaign will feature Vera highlighting the similarities of his path to being a champion with Holcim Philippines’ journey in establishing itself as, ‘the leading building solutions provider in the country.’ The campaign will highlight Holcim Excel, the company’s general purpose cement brand which is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2021. Holcim will primarily use social media for the campaign and produce materials for its trade partners nationwide.

Filipino-American Vera won the inaugural ONE Heavyweight World Championship in December 2015 and has held the title ever since.

Philippines: The Tariff Commission (TC) has said that it was unaware of a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) order imposing higher-than-scheduled duties on imports of cement. The Manila Bulletin newspaper has reported that TC commissioner Ernesto Albano said that it was legally ‘impossible’ for rates to rise above the previously scheduled US$0.19/bag. The DTI order in December 2020 set a duty of US$0.20/bag in the second year of the three-year tariff scheme. Albano said, "The DTI cannot do that. The schedule has been set.” He added, “The industry should improve so the duty should go down."

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has implemented the new rate imposed by the DTI.

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has raised the import duty per 40kg bag of cement to US$0.20 from US$0.19. The Manila Bulletin newspaper has reported that the department issued the administrative order following a petition from the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP). The petition suggested a US$0.25/bag levy as an effective means to maintain domestic cement production. The association has blamed growing imports on a surplus in countries such as Vietnam.

The DTI previously imposed tariffs on imported cement for three year from October 2019 with a staggered reduction in the duty. However, the DTI said it would review the safeguard measure in order to modify the rate as it deemed necessary.

Philippines: LafargeHolcim subsidiary Holcim Philippines has announced plans to merge with its subsidiaries Bulkcem Philippine Incorporated and MabiniGrinding Mill Corporation. The Philippine Star newspaper has reported that the board has approved the planned merger, and that a special stockholders’ meeting will take place on 15 January 2021 to finalise the transactions.

Bulkcem Philippine Incorporated leases the Iloilo cement terminal in Western Visayas, while MabiniGrinding Mill Corporation leases the Mabini grinding plant in Calabarzon.

The board also approved the dissolution of Holcim’s Business Service Center, HuBB Stores and Services and British Virgin Islands-based WellBorne Group International.

Philippines: Japan-based Taiheiyo Cement has approved plans for the installation of a new 3.0Mt/yr production line at its integrated San Fernando cement plant in Cebu. The project at subsidiary Taiheiyo Cement Philippines (TCPI) will cost around US$280m.

The company said that it decided to build the upgrade in response to four-year demand growth of 30% to 32Mt/yr in 2019 from 24Mt/yr in 2015, in line with economic growth in the Philippines. It said, “Despite demand shrinking in 2020 due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, it is expected to rise again with strong gross domestic product (GDP) recovery, estimated to be 5% in 2021, and the massive infrastructure investment programme ‘Build Build Build’.”

The company added, “The new line will offer significant advantages in terms of energy efficiency and will reduce CO₂ emissions from energy use in clinker production by more than 10% compared with the efficiency of the current line. Additionally, it is expected that the higher quality clinker produced with the new line will enable a reduction in the clinker factor and thereby realise a further CO₂ reduction per tonne of cement produced.” The line has the potential for expansion to 5.0Mt/yr production capacity.

Philippines: Phinma Group subsidiary PhilCement has committed to the adoption of the Department of Trade and Industry’s new labelling regulations for cement. The Manila Bulletin newspaper has reported that the producer agreed to cooperate with the department in the interests of the country’s construction materials’ quality and stability. This followed on from a deadlock when the department suspended cement bag printing to ensure than no new cement bags marked ‘Product of the Philippines’ were able to enter circulation containing imported cement.

In a joint statement, Phinma Group and the Department of Trade and Industry said, “DTI and Phinma Group are in full agreement that this clarity in labelling conventions would help consumers in selecting and deciding on the cement products they prefer. This will also strengthen the country’s ability to support and patronise locally manufactured products.” The department also reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all cement producers uphold consumer welfare by supplying affordable cement.

Switzerland: LafargeHolcim’s like-for-like net sales fell by 2.6% year-on-year to Euro6.04bn in the third quarter of 2020 from Euro6.68bn in the same period in 2019. However, its recurring earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) rose by 10% to Euro1.35bn from Euro1.33bn. It attributed recurring EBIT margin growth to margin increase in its cement business and cost management under the ‘Health, Cost & Cash’ action plan. For the first nine months of 2020 net sales fell by 7.9% year-on-year to Euro16.0bn from Euro18.9bn in the same period in 2019. Its EBIT decreased by 7.2% to Euro2.47bn from Euro2.88bn.

“Our third quarter results demonstrate the resilience of our business and the strength of our decentralized, empowered operating model,” said chief executive officer (CEO) Jan Jenisch. “In addition, the Group saw an increase in revenues from its branded products, which are sold across its broad distribution and retail network. For example, the company recorded a volume increase of 5% in its cement bag sales.”

Third quarter sales and earnings were either stable in improved in most regions with the exception of North America and Middle East Africa. In North America volumes were reduced by coronavirus and a slowdown in the oil and gas industry in western Canada. Overall sales fell in Middle East Africa but earnings were aided by sales volume growth in Nigeria. Elsewhere, cement market recovery was noted in Mexico and Brazil and weaker markets mentioned in the Philippines and Australia.