Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) will allocate US$6bn between 2025 and 2030 to improve the sustainability of its businesses. The investment focuses on SCG Chemicals and SCG Cleanergy, with the latter increasing its renewable power capacity to 3500MW by 2030 and constructing a new heat battery unit for energy storage at the SCG cement plant in Saraburi. The company is also looking to expand into Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

President and chief executive Thammasak Sethaudom said “We focus on these businesses as they promise sustainable growth, in line with our inclusive green growth mission.”

India: The city of Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) in Tamil Nadu has entered an agreement with a cement manufacturing unit in Ariyalur to use the city’s non-recyclable plastic materials as refuse-derived fuel (RDF) to power the plant’s kilns. This initiative aims to divert substantial amounts of plastic from the Ariyamangalam dump, starting with 300t/month and increasing over time, with hopes to collaborate with more cement plants, according to the Times of India. The city generates approximately 480t/day of non-recyclable materials, with plans to eventually prevent landfill use completely.

A Trichy official said “A cement manufacturer in Ariyalur has agreed to accept 6 - 8t/day of inert plastic ‘waste’, which will be transported to the plant in a corporation truck. It will be utilised to power the kilns as a substitute for fossil fuel.”

Argentina: Holcim Argentina has introduced the first 100% electric mining truck in the quarry mining industry in Mendoza Province, according to the company. The ‘Pure Electric Mining’ truck, belonging to the XGMT brand, is reportedly set to reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 225t/yr. It also claims to offer further benefits, including reduced operating costs and improved raw material homogeneity. The truck can transport up to 72t and has an energy recovery braking system, allowing the battery to be charged during braking to reduce energy consumption and improve operating efficiency.

Head of decarbonisation at Holcim Argentina, engineer Marilina Moro, said “Sustainability is at the core of our strategy, and as part of this path, we aim to reduce our impact on the planet. That means transforming each of our processes throughout the company's value chain.”

Mexico: Cemex has launched a new water-repellent cement under its Vertua brand, which is designed to extend the lifespan of construction projects by addressing humidity issues. The product reportedly does not require dosing and mixes like traditional grey cement. It was introduced on 12 September 2024 at the Construrama Convention in Mexico.

President of Cemex Mexico, Ricardo Naya, said “At Cemex, we have developed a new specialty cement designed to solve one of the main problems that affects almost every construction site: dampness. Our damp-proof cement is a true ‘all-in-one’. In addition to its traditional use, it incorporates water-repellent properties that not only protect structures, but also provide a smoother, more uniform finish.”

Vietnam: Deputy director of Tan Quang Cement, Tran Van Hung, has proposed reducing cement plant capacity to address the significant supply-demand imbalance. With a current supply of 120Mt/yr and a demand of only 56Mt/yr, the oversupply has led to price pressures, according to the Vietnam News Brief Service. This strategy aims to stabilise prices amid rising input costs and declining sales, further challenged by China's competitive stance and increased export taxes.

Van Hung has suggested regulating plant operations through energy limits and penalties to control supply and stabilise prices.

Brazil: China-based Sinoma Overseas has signed an engineering and supply contract for the Z02 cement grinding plant and a technical cooperation framework agreement with Votorantim Cimentos. The agreements were signed by Sinoma chair Zhu Linhe and Votorantim’s global projects director Alvaro Lorenz. This collaboration marks the third cement grinding plant project between the two companies and is part of Votorantim's ‘2028 Development Strategy.’ The contract encompasses the design, equipment supply, and technical services for a 150t/hr cement grinding plant.

Zhu Linhe said "Votorantim is the most valuable client for Sinoma Overseas, this contract and agreement strengthens the strategic partnership between the two companies. It is the strong commitment of Sinoma Overseas to support Votorantim in achieving its '2028 Development Strategy' with Sinoma’s extensive industry expertise, advanced technology and mature localised operations.”

Philippines: Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) has entered into a joint venture with Philcement to construct a dedicated berth for cement and cementitious material shipments in Davao, reports Port Calls magazine. It will oversee the construction of a 200-metre bulk terminal at berth five. Construction will commence in November 2024 and operation is expected by mid-2026. The terminal is valued at US$12.5m and will handle 2Mt/yr of cement for distribution across Mindanao, with shipping to other parts of the country being considered. Additional equipment and construction costs for a cement terminal are estimated at around US$41m.

Brazil: InterCement has presented a restructuring plan to local courts. The plan is aimed at reprofiling the capital structure of the company, and has gained approval from creditors representing over one third of its debt. The plan depends on a possible merger and acquisition transaction that is still under negotiation, according to a statement by the company. This plan comes a few months after the company announced it had entered talks to sell to Companhia Siderurgica Nacional.

US: Buzzi Unicem has blamed a late tax payment in Pennsylvania on an accounting error. The cement company made the US$18m payment five months late, in May 2024, according to the Express Times newspaper.  The issue was highlighted by a lien filed in December 2023 in Northampton county civil court. Stockertown cement plant manager Rad Slavov clarified that the payment was timely but misallocated. He said "The company is financially strong and able to meet its obligations.”

Morocco: Heidelberg Materials has signed a strategic agreement to acquire Votorantim Cimentos' assets in Morocco, including a 63% share in cement and ready-mix concrete producer Asment de Témara and the entire stake in aggregates supplier Grabemaro through its subsidiary Ciments du Maroc. This acquisition positions Ciments du Maroc to expand its operations in Northern Morocco, adding a cement plant with a production capacity of 1.4Mt/yr, two aggregates sites and eight ready-mix concrete plants. The acquisition includes access to an alternative fuels platform enhancing the fuel rate at the newly acquired cement plant to 70% by 2027, reportedly contributing to reduced environmental impact and optimised production-related energy costs. The completion of the transaction awaits regulatory approval from Moroccan competition authorities, and financial details remain undisclosed.

Chair of the managing board of Heidelberg Materials Dominik von Achten said "Our latest investment marks an important step as part of our ongoing portfolio optimisation to strengthen our core markets. Expanding our presence in the attractive Moroccan market while increasing our use of alternative fuels will generate substantial financial synergies and thus help us accelerate our ambitious decarbonisation efforts throughout our sites in the country and grow our local offering of sustainable solutions."