Argentina: Holcim Argentina has announced the launch of its Young Leaders youth professional development programme in its host provinces of Córdoba, Buenos Aires, Jujuy and Mendoza. The programme seeks to identify 15 'innovative, curious and results-oriented' young talents with qualifications and experience in the area of industrial, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, business administration, marketing, architecture or logistics. Those chosen will occupy eight-month placements at the company, beginning on 15 May 2023. There, they will manage projects under the guidance of a tutor.

Holcim Argentina's head of talent and development Claudia Vitale said "Young Leaders is specially designed to accelerate young professionals' growth by placing them in a high-performance team. It is an excellent opportunity for personal and professional development in a global industry-leading company."

US: Holcim has completed its acquisition of roofing systems producer Duro-Last.

CEO Jan Jenisch said "This is another exciting step in the expansion of Solutions and Products, advancing our Strategy 2025 - Accelerating Green Growth." He added "I am excited to welcome all 840 Duro-Last employees to the Holcim family. Duro-Last is a perfect strategic fit for our roofing business. Its proprietary technologies and leading brands complement our offering in the fast-growing North American market. Its energy-efficient systems and excellence in recycling will further advance our leadership in sustainability."

Spain: Votorantim Cimentos España’s has begun its implementation of a biodiversity management plan at its Alconera, Extremadura, cement plant in collaboration with sustainability charity Fundación Tormes-EB, local press has reported. The plan will analyse existing and potential habitats across square areas of the entire site of the 1.6Mt/yr plant. Votorantim Cimentos España and Fundación Tormes-EB have previously collaborated on biodiversity projects at two other sites in neighbouring Andalusia since 2017.

Votorantim Cimentos España’s director of sustainability Mario Pinto said "We consider it strategic to implement biodiversity management plans in our facilities because it means guaranteeing the conservation, improvement and enhancement of the natural wealth of industrial land, and confirms the compatibility of cement production with the protection of the natural environment and local ecosystems.”

The subsidiary of Brazil-based Votorantim Cimentos gained control of the Alconera cement plant upon its acquisition of Cementos Balboa in late 2021.

Pakistan: Local cement producers delivered 30.6Mt of cement to customers in Pakistan during the first nine months of the 2023 financial year, down by 15% year-on-year from 36.1Mt in the corresponding period of the 2022 financial year. The Dawn newspaper has reported that producers exported 3.04Mt of cement, 9% of total sales of 33.6Mt. Exports fell by 35% from 4.64Mt, while total sales fell by 18% from 40.8Mt.

The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) said “Continued political instability, currency devaluation and poor economic conditions are badly affecting all the industrial sectors, including the cement industry.” It continued “Construction activities in both the northern and southern regions of the country have been declining significantly over past months. Employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled labour attached to the construction sector are also in decline.”

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos recorded specific CO₂ emissions per tonne of cement of 579kg/t in 2022, down by 3% year-on-year from 2021 levels and by 24% from its 1990 baseline.

The group achieved an alternative fuel (AF) thermal substitution rate of 27% in 2022, compared with 22% in 2021, marking strong progress towards its 2030 target of 53%. Meanwhile, its cement’s clinker factor fell to 74% from 75%, against a 2030 target of 68%.

Votorantim Cimentos’ global director of sustainability, institutional relations, product development, engineering and energy, Álvaro Lorenz, said “Fighting the negative effects of climate change is at the heart of our strategy and aligns with our focus on competitiveness and on creating a positive legacy for society. We continue to work to optimise our product portfolio, explore opportunities in the circular economy and develop new technologies. The improvements in our performance in 2022 reinforce our commitment and ongoing efforts to support the carbon neutral agenda.”

India: Adani Group is legally ‘paving the way’ for an eventual merger of its cement subsidiaries ACC and Ambuja Cements into Adani Cement. The Hindu BusinessLine News has reported that the merger is not likely to reach completion before April 2024.

Adani Group holds a 63% stake in Ambuja Cements, which in turn holds a 50% in ACC. Adani Group additionally holds a 6.7% direct stake in ACC.

Afghanistan: The government's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has awarded a contract for the construction of the 1Mt/yr Shur Andam cement plant in Kandahar Province. TOLO News has reported that planned investments in the project totaled US$100m. The government said that construction will commence before April 2024. Production will begin at a 'low level,' and in the longer term the government expects to employ 5000 people at the site.

India: Adani Group says that it will raise funds for its 2028 capacity expansion plan through internal accruals. The producer plans to double its cement capacity to 140Mt/yr by 2028, and also double its sales to US$8.5bn that year. The Financial Express newspaper has reported that the group says its internal accruals will be 'sufficient' to realise its aims. The group is reportedly 'on track' to commence the first phase of the planned expansion in early-mid-2023. It has also set out a cost reduction roadmap with a view to becoming India's most profitable cement company.

Chair Gautam Adani says that he anticipates a 'multi-fold rise' in all-Indian cement consumption due to forecast high economic growth and the government's infrastructure spending plans.

Afghanistan: The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says that it will 'soon' award contracts to carry out planned expansions of the Jabal Siraj and Samangan cement plants. Together, the projects will increase both plants' cement capacity to 1.21Mt/yr. Local press has reported that the Jabal Siraj plant project will cost US$170m and the Samangan plant project will cost US$136m.

India: UltraTech Cement sold 106Mt of cement during the 2023 financial year, which ended on 31 March 2023. This corresponds to a 12% year-on-year rise from 94Mt in the 2022 financial year. The producer sold 30Mt of cement during the fourth quarter of the financial year, up by 14% year-on-year from 28Mt.

The Hindu newspaper has reported that UltraTech Cement ended the financial year with a cement production capacity of 134Mt/yr, including 2Mt/yr-worth of white cement capacity. It also operates three wall putty plants.