Australia: France-based Saint-Gobain has submitted a non-binding indicative offer of US$5.44bn for building materials producer and land banking entity CSR. CSR’s businesses include insulation producer Bradford, fibre cement systems producer Cemintel, wallboard producer Gyprock, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) block producer Hebel and roofing producer Monier. Together, CSR’s building materials units accounted for 72% of its sales in 2023.

India: Shree Cement has begun construction of two new 3.5Mt/yr cement plants at Etah and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. The Hindustan Times newspaper has reported that the projects represent the company’s delivery on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh government, that it signed in February 2023. The producer aims to reach 9Mt/yr in installed capacity in Uttar Pradesh by February 2026, with estimated investments of US$241m. It currently operates a 2Mt/yr integrated cement plant at Bulandshahr.

The company said "The company’s 3.5Mt/yr plant in Etah is expected to be operational in the next 12 months, while another 3.5Mt/yr plant will be set up in Prayagraj, targeting production commencement in 24 months."

Brazil: Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), Huaxin Cement and Votorantim Cimentos have all bid for InterCement’s Brazilian business, Valor Online News has reported. The source stated that Votorantim Cimentos is leading a consortium alongside Italy-based Buzzi and concrete producer Polimix Concreto, however the Brazilian cement market leader denied this, stating that its offer is ‘individual and independent.’ Both Votorantim Cimentos and CSN Cimentos are reportedly considering making initial public offerings (IPOs).

Votorantim Cimentos said “The company clarifies that it is not part of nor leads any consortium within the auction process. To date, its offer remains under evaluation by the respective seller and, therefore, no documents have been signed with any counterparty that generate an obligation or firm commitment for the acquisition of the assets that were the subject of the offer.”

India: UltraTech Cement has commissioned 1.8Mt/yr of new cement capacity at its Kotputli cement plant in Rajasthan. The expanded plant will help the producer to serve markets in Rajasthan and the National Capital Region. Projects Today News has reported that the expansion is part of a 22.6Mt/yr capacity growth drive, first announced in June 2022. The latest commissioning has raised UltraTech Cement’s all-India capacity by 1.3% to 137Mt/yr, and that in Rajasthan by 11% to 18.9Mt/yr.

Saudi Arabia: Sinoma Overseas Development completed start-up testing and hand-over of new grinding mills at Arabian Cement Company’s Rabigh cement on 21 February 2024. The supplier said that the delivery was in accordance with the terms of the original contract between its parent company, China National Building Material (CNBM), and the producer.

Sinoma Overseas Development attributed deviations from the project’s previously announced schedule to the need for discussions with CNBM about remaining project works, equipment operation plans, procurement schedules and acceptance tests. As provided for in the contract, the work will be subject to a 5% delay penalty.

Germany: Heidelberg Materials reported sales growth of 0.4% in 2023, to €21.2bn. The group saw its profits grow by 21%, from €1.72bn to €2.09bn. During the year, the company reduced its specific CO₂ emissions per tonne of cementitious material by 3% from 551kg to 534kg and lowered its clinker factor from 72% to 70%.

Chair Dominik von Achten said "In the 150th year of our company's history, we have once again shown that we can deal with change and crises. I am extremely proud of our teams around the world, who have remained firmly focused on our targets and have once again done an extraordinary job." He added "We are entering 2024 with optimism. Although the general economic conditions in the construction sector remain challenging, we anticipate growth in revenue and earnings also in the current year. Our shareholders are benefitting from this growth thanks to the progressive dividend and the new, comprehensive share buyback programme.”

Argentina: Camargo Correa Group’s auctioneer JP Morgan will receive offers from bidders for Loma Negra later in February 2024. The La Nación newspaper has reported that Loma Negra may attract a price of over US$700m. Private investors Marcelo Mindlin and Daniel Sielecki will bid together, against anticipated corporate bidders from Brazil and China. Mindlin and Sielecki are joint owners of utilities provider Transportadora Gas del Sur.

Colombia: Cementos Argos recorded a 30% year-on-year rise in its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to US$620m in 2023. This came despite a 3% drop in the producer’s cement sales, to 15.7Mt. Its profit rose by 83% to US$74m. The producer attributed the growth to favourable price dynamics, cost efficiencies and productivity improvements.

Cementos Argos had an installed cement capacity of 24Mt/yr at the end of 2023.

India: JK Cement Ltd has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Toshali Cements. The parties concluded their agreement in June 2023, at which time the value of the deal was reportedly US$19m.

Toshali Cements operates a 200,000t/yr cement plant and a 435,000t/yr grinding plant, both in Odisha.

US: Eagle Materials has outlined its climate change mitigation successes in its 2023 Sustainability Report. During 2023, the company increased its production of blended cement products, including Portland Limestone Cement (PLC). It commenced a major CO2 reduction study with the US Department of Energy, and established a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Team to explore new clean technologies. Eagle Materials says that it is currently working to increase the use of alternative fuels at three of its cement plants.