China: China National Building Materials (CNBM) recorded operating sales of US$27.2bn in the first nine months of 2020, down by 1% year-on-year from US$27.4bn in the first nine months of 2019. Net profit rose to US$2.82bn, up by 22% from US$2.31bn.

The group said, “On 17 April 2020, the Company became the first batch of first-tier mature enterprises of the National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors, and carried out unified registration of debt financing instruments (TDFI) (including but not limited to super short-term commercial paper, short-term commercial paper, medium-term debentures, perpetual debentures, asset-backed notes, green debt financing instruments) in the China inter-bank bond market, which were issuable in different types and separate tranches, with a registration term of two years.”

Thailand: Siam Cement Group’s sales in the first nine months of 2020 were US$9.73bn, down by 9% year-on-year from US$10.7bn in the first nine months of 2019. Profit rose by 8% to US$891m from US$826m. Its cement and building materials business recorded revenues of US$4.22bn, down by 6% from US$4.49bn. The group attributed this to coronavirus-related lockdown measures. However, its earnings before taxation, interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBTIDA) rose by 9% to US$574m.

US: Eagle Materials recorded sales of US$875m in the six months between 1 April 2020 and 30 September 2020, the first half of its 2020 financial year, up by 16% year-on-year from US$756m in the first half of the 2019 financial year. Net earnings were US$192m, up by 70% from US$113m. Total cement shipments rose by 28% to 4.27Mt from 3.33Mt.

President and chief executive officer (CEO) Michael Haack said, “We are pleased to have delivered another quarter of record revenue and net earnings growth while further strengthening our balance sheet. Our end markets remain resilient as Covid-19-related uncertainty persists: the housing market continued its strong rebound, cement demand remained robust, despite wet weather in the first half of September.” He added that the company shipped a record 2.2Mt of cement during the quarter.

Rwanda: Kenya-based National Cement has begun selling its Simba brand cement on the Rwandan market. The New Times newspaper has reported that the company is aiming to compete against importers from further afield with cement produced at its Nakuru cement plant in Salgaa, Nakuru County in Kenya, thereby alleviating supply chain bottlenecks.

National Cement reportedly selected the market due to the “pace of development and infrastructure establishment,” and is offering its cement at a promotional price.

Spain: Cementos Portland Valderrivas has renewed its Alcalá de Guadaíra integrated cement plant’s registration to the European Environmental Management System (EMAS). The company says that EMAS registration “encourages transparency in plant management and provides information verified and validated by an external body” to help it to comply with controls and self-controls in its Integrated Environment Authorisation (IEA).

Environment manager Pedro Lanagrán said, “The company maintains a very demanding environmental policy and is committed to innovation to achieve continuous improvement, relying on the application of the best available technologies.” He added, “We understand social responsibility as a transversal concept and are convinced that it is essential to reconcile economic and social progress with the protection of people and nature."

Switzerland: LafargeHolcim’s like-for-like net sales fell by 2.6% year-on-year to Euro6.04bn in the third quarter of 2020 from Euro6.68bn in the same period in 2019. However, its recurring earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) rose by 10% to Euro1.35bn from Euro1.33bn. It attributed recurring EBIT margin growth to margin increase in its cement business and cost management under the ‘Health, Cost & Cash’ action plan. For the first nine months of 2020 net sales fell by 7.9% year-on-year to Euro16.0bn from Euro18.9bn in the same period in 2019. Its EBIT decreased by 7.2% to Euro2.47bn from Euro2.88bn.

“Our third quarter results demonstrate the resilience of our business and the strength of our decentralized, empowered operating model,” said chief executive officer (CEO) Jan Jenisch. “In addition, the Group saw an increase in revenues from its branded products, which are sold across its broad distribution and retail network. For example, the company recorded a volume increase of 5% in its cement bag sales.”

Third quarter sales and earnings were either stable in improved in most regions with the exception of North America and Middle East Africa. In North America volumes were reduced by coronavirus and a slowdown in the oil and gas industry in western Canada. Overall sales fell in Middle East Africa but earnings were aided by sales volume growth in Nigeria. Elsewhere, cement market recovery was noted in Mexico and Brazil and weaker markets mentioned in the Philippines and Australia.

India: Cement production fell by 18% year-on-year to 209Mt in the first nine months of 2020 from 255Mt in the same period in 2019. Data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shows that production in the third quarter of 2020 dropped by 11% year-on-year to 69Mt from 78Mt. Monthly production has consistently fallen year-on-year since March 2020 when coronavirus-related lockdown measures started.

Egypt: Cement sales rose by 10% month-on-month to 3.8Mt in September 2020, the highest figure since April 2020. However, year-on-year sales for the month fell by 12.5%, according to the Daily News Egypt newspaper. Naeem Research said that cement demand remains 15% below where the market should be due to the coronavirus pandemic. The local cement production capacity utilisation rate is estimated to be 56%.

Algeria: The Ain El Kebira (SCAEK) cement plant near Setif, part of the Industrial Cement Group of Algeria (GICA), has launched an operation to export 40,000t of clinker to the Dominican Republic. The company has already been marketed its products in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Peru and Brazil, according to the Algeria Press Service. SCAEK has already exported 0.55Mt of clinker to countries in Africa and South America. The cement producer plans to export 0.75Mt of clinker in 2020.

Togo: The government has granted two mineral exploration permits to Dangote Cement to assess carbonate phosphate reserves in Kpomé Apéyémé, Zio prefecture and Akoumapé, Vo prefecture. The licences are valid for three years with options for renewal, according to the Liberté newspaper and Agence Ecofin. If suitable deposits are found then they could support plans by the cement producer to build a plant in the country. Dangote Cement received government clearance to build a 1.5Mt/yr grinding plant for US$60m in late 2019.