Greece: Titan Group says that its updated 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with the levels required to limit a global temperature increase to 1.5°C. With the new targets the cement producer intends to tackle direct (Scope 1) emissions, indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity (Scope 2), and also other indirect emissions from the supply chain (Scope 3).

The company plans to reduce Scope 1 (gross), 2 and 3 (gross) GHG emissions covering in produced and purchased cement and clinker, by 25.1% per tonne of cementitious product sold by 2030, from a 2020 base year. Within this target it intends to reduce Scope 1 GHG emissions (gross) by 22.8% per tonne of cementitious product and to reduce Scope 2 GHG emissions by 58.1% per tonne of cementitious product from a 2020 base year. It also intends to reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions from the use of sold fossil fuels by 42% from a 2021 base year. A Global Cement estimate suggests that it aims to reduce its specific net Scope 1 CO₂ emissions to around 520kgCO₂/t of cementitious product in 2030 compared to 654kgCO₂/t in 2021.

Mexico: Cemex says it has validated its 2030 decarbonisation goals through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for alignment under their new 1.5°C scenario. Under the new target the group plans to reduce its Scope 1 (direct) emissions by 47% less of CO₂ per ton of cementitious material and 35% less of carbon content in concrete compared to a 1990 baseline. A Global Cement estimate suggests that Cemex has set its 2030 target to around 425kg CO₂/t of cementitious product compared to 800kg CO₂/t in 1990 and 591kg CO₂/t in 2021.

The group also intends to reduce its Scope 2 (indirect) emissions via a 65% increase in sustainable electricity consumption. It aims to reduce its Scope 3 emissions through a 25% reduction in CO₂ per tonne of purchased clinker and cement, a 30% reduction in transport emissions, a 40% reduction of scope 3 emissions per tonne of purchased fuels and a 42% reduction in absolute scope 3 emissions from the use of traded fuels compared to a 2020 baseline.

Canada: The government and the Cement Association of Canada have published the ‘Roadmap to Net-Zero Carbon Concrete by 2050.’ The document details how cement and concrete producers and legislators could achieve net-zero CO₂ emissions from the cement and concrete sector by 2050. The joint government-industry working group next plans to release an action plan explaining how the sector will reduce its CO₂ emissions by up to 40% by 2030 and a plan for research and development required to meet the 2050 target. The country’s cement and concrete industry says it has committed to reducing over 15Mt of greenhouse gases cumulatively by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050.

“Decarbonising concrete is a necessity, and Canada’s cement and concrete industry has demonstrated that it is up to the task. This roadmap demonstrates our industry’s leadership in CO₂ emissions reduction and positions us to achieve our goal of net-zero cement by 2050,” said Marie Glenn, chair of the Cement Association of Canada. Association president and chief executive officer Adam Auer added, “While we are steadfast in our commitment to reduce our emissions by 15MT cumulatively by 2030 and reach true net-zero by 2050, we know we can’t do it alone. Together in collaboration with government we will continue to support the innovation and investment needed on our path to delivering net-zero concrete, while at the same time preserving its properties as a durable, resilient, versatile, and cost-effective material.”

Japan: Taiheiyo Cement’s sales in the first half of its financial year to 30 September 2022 rose by 10.6% year-on-year to US$2.57bn from US$2.32bn in the same period in 2021. Its reported an operating loss of US$2.14m compared to a profit of US$176m previously. Its domestic and export sales volumes of cement fell by 0.5% to 6.56Mt and 27% to 1.41Mt respectively.

By region the group said that, although demand was consistent for its business in the western US, sales volumes fell due to poor weather. In China sales volumes dropped to the effects of the country’s zero coronavirus policy upon the market. Sales decreased in Vietnam, partly due anti-dumping duties imposed by the Philippines upon imports.

Italy: Buzzi Unicem’s net sales rose by 18% year-on-year to Euro3.00bn in the first nine months of 2022 from Euro2.54bn in the same period in 2021. Its cement sales volumes fell by 6% to 21.9Mt from 23.4Mt. Its ready-mixed concrete sales volumes dropped by 3% to 8.80Mm³ from 9.05Mm³. The group reported a general slowdown in demand during the third quarter of 2022, particularly in Italy, Eastern Europe and Ukraine. This trend was weaker in the US and sales volumes improved in Central Europe. Buzzi Unicem added that it increased its prices in all regions in the third quarter.

Colombia: Cementos Argos has reported record sales and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the first nine months of 2022. Sales for the period reached US$1.73bn, with EBITDA reaching US$306m. In terms of shipments, Cementos Argos delivered 12.3Mt of cement, 2% less than in the first nine months of 2021. It delivered 5.8Mm³/yr of concrete, a year-on-year rise of 9%.

Juan Esteban Calle, president of the company, said "We are excited to deliver positive results to our shareholders that show that the strategies we are implementing, in terms of deleveraging, efficiency, network integration logistics and price recovery, are bearing fruit. Amid strong inflationary pressures in all markets, we were able to expand profitability and margins versus last year."

During the third quarter of 2022 the company saw revenues of US$414m in the US market, an increase of 23% compared to the third quarter of 2021. Its EBITDA in the US for the quarter increased by 26% to US$77m. It said that 'solid' demand helped it to increase cement sales volumes by 6% to 1.6Mt, while concrete sales rose by 4% to 1.1Mm³.

In its native Colombia, revenues reached US$143m, a year-on-year increase of 11%, with EBITDA at US$32.1m. During the three-month period, cement shipments remained stable, while the concrete business has continued its sustained recovery, supported by infrastructure and formal housing projects. The company highlighted that exports from Cartagena grew by 37% to reach 319,000t, the highest quarterly figure in the company's history.

In the Caribbean and Central America revenues rose by 8% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2022 to reach US$136m, with EBITDA stable year-on-year at US£31m. However, cement shipments decreased by 13% to 1.0Mt. Cementos Argos said that this was partly due to serious social disruption in Haiti, as well as a change of government in Honduras and scheduled maintenance in the Dominican Republic. However, the company saw a 59% increase in concrete shipments to 77,000m³.

Indonesia: Semen Indonesia’s revenue fell slightly to US$1.61bn in the first nine months of 2022. Its total sales volumes of cement fell by 13% year-on-year to 26.2Mt from 30Mt in the same period in 2021. Domestic and regional sales fell by 6% to 21.9Mt and by 37% to 4.3Mt respectively. The group’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBIDTA) rose slightly to US$365m. It said that its cost of goods rose by 1.6% to US$1.14bn, driven by a 12% increase in fuel and energy costs. It added that its coal purchase price increased by 42% in the reporting period but that the company managed to secure its coal supply in the second and third quarter of 2022 at the local Domestic Market Obligation capped price.

Greece: Titan Group says that strong sales in the third quarter of 2022 has driven its performance so far in 2022. Its sales rose by 32% year-on-year to Euro1.66bn in the first nine months of 2022 from Euro1.26bn in the same period in 2021. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBIDTA) grew by 7% to Euro235m from Euro220m. It attributed its sales growth to higher sales volumes and higher prices more than sufficiently offsetting growing energy and transport costs. Strong performance was reported in the US and construction market was described as recovering in Greece. Elsewhere, high energy costs were said to be reducing demand in Southeast Europe, market problems in Turkey continued but the group raised its prices and increased exports, saes volumes increased in Egypt and a decline was noted in Brazil.

UK: Cookstown Cement has rebranded as Cemcor. The company formed in January 2022 following its acquisition of the 0.45Mt/yr Cookstown cement plant from Holcim in January 2022. It then announced investments of around Euro14m towards making environmental and process upgrades at the unit. The company also purchased a limestone quarry in Cookstown, a shale quarry in Dungannon and a terminal at Belfast Harbour.

Germany: The Catch4Climate project says it is ready to build an oxyfuel pilot unit at Schwenk Zement’s Mergelstetten plant following approval by the Stuttgart Regional Council. The project comprises Dyckerhoff, Heidelberg Materials, Schwenk Zement and Vicat, and It has set up a research company called CI4C to run it. Over Euro120m will be invested towards building a dedicated 450t/day production line to test the oxyfuel process. Jürgen Thormann, the Technical Managing Director of CI4C, said that this is the first time a so-called ‘pure’ oxyfuel process will be used for CO₂ capture. At a later stage in the project the consortium plans to use the captured CO₂ to produce so-called ‘reFuels’, climate-neutral synthetic fuels such as kerosene for aircraft, with the help of renewable electrical energy. Commissioning of the unit is scheduled for mid-2024.