Trinidad & Tobago: The government has reacted to a 15% rise in the price of cement by increasing imports and delaying an increase in taxes on the commodity. The country’s sole producer, Trinidad Cement (TCL), says that its price rise is set to start on 20 December 2021, according to the Trinidad Express newspaper. It has blamed this on mounting input costs such as gas, spare parts and other materials.

However, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) told the cement producer that it viewed any price rise as ‘unacceptable’ given that 90% of inputs to production were local. In response the government has doubled the quota for cement imports to 150,000t in 2022 with each individual importer receiving a 50% boost to their own quotas. It has also agreed with the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to suspend the Common External Tariff (CET) on hydraulic cement and a planned rise in the duty to 20% for one year to the end of 2022.

TCL’s competitor Rock Hard Cement, a cement importer, ended local operations in August 2021 after losing a court case against the country’s Ministry of Trade and Industry in July 2021.

Iran/US: The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) says it has reached a settlement of around US$133,000 with an unnamed US citizen for violating Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations by accepting payment in connection with a clinker deal. OFAC says the individual received payment in the US of around US$133,00 on behalf of an Iran-based company selling Iranian-origin clinker to another company for a project in a third country. Whilst OFAC considered that the individual knew they were flouting the US-based regulations it did view the individual’s apparent minimal benefit from the activity as a mitigating factor. The individual had previously submitted a licence request to OFAC in connection to other transactions but this was denied.

Japan: Taiheiyo Cement is among 13 participant companies whose proposed carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) demonstration hub has received approval to proceed with funding from the Japan Ministry of the Environment. Nikkei Business Trends News has reported that Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions, Uyeno Transtech, JGC, Chiyoda, Taisei Corporation, the University of Tokyo, Kyushu University, Japan NUS, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and QJ Science also collaborated in the development of the CCUS system. The trial will begin in early 2022 and conclude in the 2025 financial year.

Jordan: Lafarge Jordan is negotiating with the Jordan government to find a solution to end protests by its employees. The Jordan Times newspaper has reported that the workers went to Parliament to protest their rights, which they claim have been impinged on by the company. Labour Minister Nayef Steitieh urged the parties to establish a compromise in order to resolve the protesters’ demands.

India: ACC has expanded its Green Building Centre chain into Telangana. The Orissa Diary newspaper has reported that the producer inaugurated the new Karimnagar Green Building Centre in the state on 14 December 2021. The centre will stock affordable alternative building products such as fly ash bricks and reduced-CO² concrete blocks. ACC aims to support Indian cities’ social, environmental and financial development through its Green Building Centres.

Managing director and chief executive officer Sridhar Balakrishnan said "At ACC, we strongly believe in embracing communities and working together to effect the real change. ACC's Green Building Centre business model benefits thousands of small scale construction workers by giving them employment and training."

Italy: Cementir Holding has been achieved its first CDP A- rating for climate change mitigation in its operations. The producer said that the global average rating is B-, compared to B in Europe and in the cement and concrete industry globally. CDP awarded Cementir a B for water security, its first such rating in the category.

Chair and chief executive officer Francesco Caltagirone said “This achievement is a further recognition of our efforts to make our carbon footprint more sustainable. We are committed to tackling climate change and minimising our environmental impact.”

US: LafargeHolcim has acquired Marshall Concrete Products. The newly acquired subsidiary supplies concrete products and services in the Minneapolis/St Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota.

Chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said “This acquisition is another step in our Strategy 2025 to become the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions. We welcome the employees of Marshall Concrete Products and look forward to building on their strong customer service focus, which made them a partner of choice in the Twin Cities area for decades. This acquisition strengthens our presence in this strong growth market while contributing to Holcim’s overall strategy to expand our range of low-carbon products and solutions.”

Iran: Ghadir Investment Cement Holding launched its initial public offering (IPO) on 11 December 2021. The Financial Tribune newspaper has reported that the company will seek to sell 5% of its shares. It expects to generate around US$8m from the IPO.

India: Ratings agency Crisil has forecast 11 – 13% year-on-year growth of cement sales volumes in the 2021 financial year. The Press Trust of India has reported that the agency predicted that high demand and increased fuel costs would precipitate a rise in cement prices to record levels before April 2022.

In December 2021, petcoke prices rose by 80% year-on-year, while the price of imported coal had more than doubled. This has increased cement producers’ costs by 40%.

India: UltraTech Cement has emerged as the preferred bidder in the auction of limestone company Ravur Limestone. Ravur Limestone’s limestone assets consist of 708Mt of stone over 7.13km² in Tehsil Chittapur in Karnataka’s Kalburgi district. The Karnataka government will conduct the sale by electronic auction.