Displaying items by tag: Shipping

Egypt: Abu Dhabi Ports Group subsidiary Transcargo International (TCI) is building a bulk cement terminal at Arish port in North Sinai Governorate. The company says that the facility will be equipped with six 10,000t cement silos. Four silos will store up to 40,000t of grey cement, while two will store up to 20,000t/yr of white cement. Cementir Holding subsidiary Sinai White Portland Cement has signed a cooperation agreement with TCI to use the Arish cement terminal. TCI says that the terminal will serve multiple markets worldwide and help Sinai White Portland Cement to raise its total export volumes, thereby also raising its competitiveness.

TCI’s CEO Mohamed El Ahwal said "This project aligns with our commitment to support Egyptian exports by providing specialised logistics solutions across several industries. Building and operating Egypt’s first bulk cement terminal, we anticipate cost savings for cement producers in Egypt, making prices more competitive globally and increasing global market penetration."

France: Lafarge France has hired Leclanché to upgrade its pusher tugboat Marsouin to a diesel and electric hybrid propulsion system. The supplier will install a 766kWh 65 Ah Navius MRS-3 battery system in the vessel, which operates mostly on the River Seine.

Lafarge France river operations manager Kevin Audegond said "The retrofit of our Marsouin pusher is the first stage in an ambitious programme to modernise our entire fleet by 2030, which will make it possible to transport our materials more ecologically and reduce our environmental impact in the long term.”

India: JSW Cement is conducting a pilot project in the use of electric vehicles for cement transportation. The producer has introduced five Murugappa electric cement trucks into its fleet in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It expects these to eliminate 150t/yr of CO₂ emissions from its logistics operations.

Daijiworld News has reported that CEO Nilesh Narwekar said “The pilot project is an important milestone in making our future much greener and more purposeful.” He added “Based on the success of these pilot trials, we will scale-up the integration of these trucks across our cement operations in India.”

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement plans to increase its exports of its cement. The Gleaner newspaper has reported that the company announced its successful despatch of a 3400t shipment of cement to Turks and Caicos on 16 September 2023. The shipment consisted of 2267 jumbo bags of its higher early strength cement.

Managing director Yago Castro reassured Jamaicans that Caribbean Cement would continue to prioritise the domestic market. He continued “However, there is a market out there for us. We will actively look for opportunities to reallocate the spare capacity to the export market."

South Korea: The Korean Railway Workers’ Union called a four-day strike of its 13,000 members across South Korea on 14 September 2023. Reuters has reported that the union is seeking higher pay, improved working conditions and the expansion of bullet train services into South Seoul. The Ministry of Transport predicts that total cargo haulage will drop by 53 - 79%. The Korean Cement Association (KCA) said that a protracted strike would disrupt cement production. The industry is 40% reliant on rail transport.

A representative from a KCA member said “We have secured some inventory in preparation for the strike, but it's not a lot. If the strike lengthens, we will have to convert to land transport, which will drive up costs and hit profitability."

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."

US: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the US Department of Labor has found that Buzzi Unicem USA failed in its duty to implement safe practices, after a 50-year-old employee died at work in February 2023. The victim was working on a Mississippi River barge belonging to Buzzi Unicem USA subsidiary River Cement Sales when he fell overboard, leading to his death. OSHA concluded that Buzzi Unicem USA had committed multiple serious safety violations. Those connected to the tragedy in February 2023 included failures to ensure that workers wore personal floatation devices and to install guardrails. The administration said that the failures ‘cost a worker his life.’ Safety inspectors proposed a fine of US$62,500 for the breaches.

Pakistan: Lucky Cement has won the KCCI Export Trophy for its performance in the cement export market during the 2021 financial year. The News International newspaper has reported that the company relied on its 24,000t-capacity Karachi cement terminal to ship cement to markets across South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Chief executive officer Muhammed Ali Tabba said "This modern facility allows the company to excel in exporting break bulk and containerised shipments." He continued "Our focus is on implementing advanced manufacturing technologies to enhance technical capabilities and operational efficiencies. A diversified business portfolio has helped us strengthen the country's industrial base, enabling us to develop a larger manufacturing footprint and seize opportunities for growth both in local and international markets."

US: Holcim US has announced plans for a 25MW solar power plant to serve 75% of the electricity needs of its Alpena cement plant in Michigan. The company says that the installation at the Alpena plant will be the largest in the US Midwest Region. Holcim US chose NorthStar Clean Energy to build the array, which it says will eliminate 25,000t/yr of CO₂ emissions.

Other planned projects at the Alpena cement plant include an upgrade to the plant's dock in order to accommodate larger vessels and reduce the number of trips in its Great Lakes transport operations.

Holcim US' senior vice president, manufacturing, Michael Nixon said “As Holcim is showing in Alpena, the path to net-zero carbon emissions requires a blend of proactive solutions. Whether it’s using alternative fuels or implementing renewable energy from solar power, we are committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels — a goal that will benefit the environment as a whole and the Alpena community we have called home for more than 115 years.”

Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA) has called for a 60% cut to duties on clinker imports, to US$1.84/t from US$4.61/t. The Financial Express newspaper has reported that BCMA members are struggling with high shipping costs and supply issues due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Bangladesh government published plans to raise the duty on imports of clinker by 40% to US$6.46/t in its 2023 budget on 13 June 2023.