Spain: Cement consumption grew by 8.6% year-on-year across Spain in February 2025 to reach 1.27Mt, around 0.1Mt more than in February 2024, according to the latest data published by the national cement association Oficemen. In the cumulative figures for the first two months of 2025, consumption was 2.4Mt, 0.2Mt (9.4%) higher than the equivalent figures for 2024. Rolling year-on-year data - covering March 2024 to February 2025 - showed consumption of 15.1Mt, a 4.4% increase compared to the year earlier period.

Aniceto Zaragoza, CEO of Oficemen, said “Although it is still early to make assessments, it is significant to note that February 2025 was the highest cement consumption month since 2011. This confirms a certain continuity in the positive trend we experienced at the end of 2024 and which we expected to continue in 2025.”

Cement exports from Spain fell by 15.3% in February 2025 to 0.31Mt, 55,627t less than in February 2024. In rolling year figures, exports fell by 5.1% over the 12-month period, to reach 4.8Mt.

Burkina Faso: Ibrahim Traoré, the President of Burkina Faso, inaugurated the Sino-Burkinabè Industrial Cement Company (CISINOB) in Laongo, Ziniaré on 20 March 2025. The grinding plant has a capacity of 0.75Mt/yr and cost US$43m. The unit will be expanded in a second later stage to reach a capacity of 1.2Mt/yr.

Vietnam: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has given in-principle approval for a port project at Long Son My Xuan in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. The US$102m plan includes a 2.3Mt/yr cement grinding plant, according to the Saigon Times Daily newspaper. A 270m-long berth for ships up to 30,000dwt and four 530m berths for vessels up to 7500dwt will also be added.

The People’s Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province has been assigned to allocate land to the investor in accordance with the approved land use planning, land use plan, and port development master plan, ensuring compliance with land regulations.

Colombia: Grey cement production in Colombia fell by 5.9% year-on-year to 0.95Mt in January 2025. Domestic shipments also fell by 3.0%, reflecting lower demand in the construction market, according to the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE).

DANE reported that cumulative production between February 2024 and January 2025 reached 13.3Mt, a 5.7% year-on-year decrease compared to the same period a year previously. Domestic shipments dropped by 12.1Mt. Industry experts warn that these results could impact the pace of construction activity in the country in the coming months.

UK: Cemex has announced the construction of a mortar plant in Swindon, Wiltshire as part of its strategy to supply more alternative and sustainable materials to growing urban centres. The Mexico-based group said the plant will begin operations in the second half of 2025.

The new plant will produce Cemex's Vertua low-carbon mortars, with a CO2 footprint at least 30% lower than that of standard mortars. It will also feature a drying system designed to minimise heat consumption and significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption throughout the production process.

"As part of our growth strategy, we make strategic acquisitions and build new plants in advanced markets," said Fernando A Gonzalez, Cemex's CEO. "This strategically-located plant will enhance our production capacity in the country, advance our decarbonisation goals and allow us to offer a better experience to our customers in the region."

North Korea: Local press has reported that the Chonnaeri cement plant has “over-fulfilled its cement production plan every day.” In a rare statement it attributed this to the “devoted efforts of its officials and workers” who have contributed the Workers' Party of Korea's ‘grand construction plan.’The report follows a 2023 upgrade to the plant’s production line. The plant does not seem to have been affected by supply issues that have affected other producers in the country.

Puerto Rico: 55,500t of bagged cement were sold in Puerto Rico in February 2025, a 12.3% year-on-year increase compared to February 2024. Data from the Economic Development Bank shows that production of cement within the territory rose by 10.4% to 16,200t.

In the first eight months of the 2025 fiscal year, which runs from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, cement sales have increased by 3.8% compared to the same period in the 2024 fiscal year.

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement Company achieved a net profit of US$37.7m in 2024, a 6.7% year-on-year increase from 2023. It reported this despite disruptions caused by Hurricane Beryl and other adverse weather conditions that affected production. The company's revenues rose by 2.3% to US$180m, driven by strong market demand.

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos grew its revenue and earnings in 2024 but its net income dropped significantly due to interest rate volatility. It noted ‘positive performance’ in its Europe and Asia region and a stable market in Brazil. It attributed its mounting earnings to its balanced portfolio, revenue in Europe and Asia, operational efficiency, reduced costs and new business.

The group’s net revenue grew by 3% year-on-year to US$4.69bn in 2024 from US$4.53bn in 2023. However, revenue fell slightly in local currencies due to negative exchange effects, particularly in North America. Cement sales volumes rose by 1% to 35.4Mt from 34.9Mt. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 16% to US$1.14bn from US$0.99bn. Earnings rose in all regions except for Latin America due to a ‘challenging’ market in Uruguay and lower prices in Bolivia. Despite this, its adjusted net income dropped by 17% to US$383m from US$461m.

“We ended the year with record-high operating results, supported by our geographic, product and business diversification, in line with our strategic mandate,” said Osvaldo Ayres, the group’s global CEO. The company invested over US$550m in 2024 towards decarbonisation, competitiveness and new businesses. A further US$880m investment plan in Brazil to 2028 was announced in early 2024. Ongoing projects include upgrades supporting higher thermal substitution rates at the Xambioá plant in Tocantins state and the Salto de Pirapora plant in São Paulo. A new 1Mt/yr cement grinding unit is being built at the Salto de Pirapora site. Construction of this project is scheduled for completion in the second-half of 2025. A new 1Mt/yr cement grinding unit was also announced at the Edealina plant in Goiás. This project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

Votorantim also revealed that it paid around US$190m to the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) at the end of 2024 in connection with an agreement to end all administrative and judicial litigation. It said “We definitively resolved all pending disputes with CADE. We did not acknowledge, at any time, having committed any unlawful act or engaged in any anticompetitive behaviour.”

US: MTR Carbon Capture says that St Marys Cement’s Charlevoix plant in Michigan will be the first cement plant in the world to deploy its Polaris polymeric membrane-based technology. The pilot project aims to capture 3t/day of CO₂ during a six month testing period. It intends to demonstrate that a 95% CO₂ capture rate is achievable.

US-based Membrane Technology and Research (MTR) specialises in the development and production of membrane-based separation systems for the petrochemical, natural gas and refining industries. The company was set up in 1982 and has its headquarters in Newark, California.