Displaying items by tag: Philippines

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry says that it is considering banning Bureau of Philippines Standards-certified companies’ cement from bearing the label ‘Made in the Philippines’ where it was produced in another country. The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines has complained that the labels constitute false advertising.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said that any regulative action would follow a thorough review, but “offhand, if products are not really manufactured here, they cannot be labelled as ‘Made in the Philippines.’”

Philippines: Germany-based Hazemag says that it has supplied two HRC 1230 roller crushers to Northern Cement’s 2.0Mt/yr Bulacan, Quezon cement plant. The supplier says that each crusher has a capacity of 800t/hr and will grind pozzolan, shale and silica in the plant’s additive crushing and handling line.

Vietnam: The Vietnam National Cement Corporation (VICEM) says that total cement and clinker exports in the first eight months of 2020 were 23.9Mt, up by 16% year-on-year from 20.7Mt in the corresponding period of 2019. The total value of exports rose by 1.2% to US$882m from US$872m, corresponding to a price drop of 12% to US$36.9/t from US$42.1/t.

Saigon Online News has reported that the main source of demand growth is China’s burgeoning post-coronavirus lockdown construction market, where a 35% year-on-year increase in cement consumption in July 2020 has enabled Vietnamese producers and traders to undercut the cement prices of the newly streamlined domestic industry. China received 12.6Mt (53%) of Vietnam’s cement and clinker exports, followed by the Philippines with 4.5Mt (19%) and Bangladesh with 1.7Mt (7.1%).

Philippines: LafargeHolcim subsidiary Holcim Philippines says that it has partnered with digital news platform providers Pinoy Builders. The commercial partnership involves Holcim Philippines providing Pinoy Builders with its cement, concrete and health and safety expertise.

Marketing and innovation senior vice president Ram Maganti said, “The Philippines is a very digitally-savvy country and the majority of professionals in the Philippines' construction industry are millennials who are 'digital natives.' With its steadily-growing number of subscribers and followers, Pinoy Builders is helpful in our efforts in engaging and positively influencing the construction industry. We are excited in continuing to contribute to this platform to let Filipino building professionals know how our offerings and solutions can help them in their projects.”

Vietnam: Producers have reported a 5.4% fall in value of cement and clinker exports to US$732m in the first seven months of 2020 from US$774m in the corresponding period of 2019. Volumes increased by 11% to 19.5Mt from 17.6Mt. Dautu Online News has reported that Bangladesh, China and the Philippines were among import markets for Vietnamese cement.

The Ministry of Construction maintains its 2019 projection of 32Mt – 33Mt of cement and clinker exports in 2020.

Philippines: Aboitiz Group food and agriculture subsidiary Pilmico Foods says that it has developed a waste ash-based concrete mix that contains 20% less cement than its previous mix and that “can be used for all of the company’s construction needs.” The Manila Bulletin newspaper has reported that the ash is sourced from burnt rice husks, a fuel source for Pilmico’s food production and itself a by-product of its operations. Central Maintenance Department mechanical supervisor Michael Cayabyab said, “When we started using the biomass boiler almost two years ago, we saw process improvements and reduced costs. But in Pilmico, we know that the challenge does not stop there." The company has yet to commercialise the concrete, however it hopes to inspire others with its “demonstration of the circular economy demolishing the divide between industries.”

Philippines: Eagle Cement recorded a net profit of US$26.5m in the first half of 2020, down by 61% year-on-year from US$68.0m. Sales also fell, by 44% to US$120m from US$214m.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Paul Ang said, “These are very difficult times but we remain confident that the economy will recover from this pandemic and emerge stronger. The government’s steady push for the completion of major infrastructure projects and the private sector’s readiness to bounce back offer encouraging signs for our company’s prospects moving forward.” He added, “More aggressive strategies in pricing and marketing will be undertaken in the remaining half of the year.”

Philippines: Eagle Cement has shared plans for the installation of a fifth mill at its 7.1Mt/yr integrated cement plant in San Ildefonso, Bulacan Province at a cost of US$30m. Business World News has reported that the upgrade will raise the plant’s capacity to 8.6Mt/yr. President and chief executive officer John Paul Ang said, “Our strong financial position will allow us to weather this health crisis battering the economy without giving up major components of our expansion plans.”

Eagle Cement said that it “ramped up production” following the national coronavirus lockdown in June 2020 in order “to support the government’s push for accomplishing critical infrastructure projects.” It is currently working towards the launch of an online customer portal for placing and tracking cement orders.

Philippines: John Stull, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Holcim Philippines, says that the subsidiary of LafargeHolcim is no longer being considered for divestment. He made the comments at the company’s annual shareholders meeting, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.

“Holcim Philippines will remain with the major shareholder of LafargeHolcim and we will grow with the company and with the country," he said. Still added that the cement producer was making long-term plans to boost the production capacity of its plants in Luzon and Mindanao. LafargeHolcim’s attempt to sell its majority stake in Holcim Philippines to San Miguel Corporation for US$2.15bn collapsed in May 2020 after the Philippines Competition Authority (PCC) failed to approve the deal within 12 months of its conclusion.

Pakistan: DG Khan Cement has secured a contract for the supply of cement to a customer in the Philippines. The cement producer exported 0.27Mt of cement and 0.71Mt of clinker in its financial year to 30 June 2019. Government Advisor for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production Abdul Razak Dawood called the addition of a Philippine client to the company’s order list a “breakthrough” saying, “Once market reach extends then market share will increase. Increasing geographical diversification is an important part of our strategic trade policy.”