Global Cement Newsletter

Issue: GCW730 / 08 October 2025

Headlines


Egypt: Ayat Zanaty has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Holcim subsidiary Lafarge Egypt. Zanaty will be the first woman in the position, advancing Lafarge Egypt’s NextGen2030 strategy.

Zanaty has worked for Lafarge Egypt since 2008, most recently as Senior Manager – Financial Planning Analysis. She holds a bachelor’s of business administration degree in Finance and Marketing from The American University in Cairo.


US: James Hardie has appointed Samara Toole as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Toole will lead marketing strategy and execution across the company’s James Hardie, TimberTech and AZEK Exteriors brands. She brings over 20 years’ consumer product industry experience, including as CMO of outdoor living products company The AZEK Company and home furnishings company California Closets and as Senior Vice President Marketing at interior design company Serena & Lily.

Business Wire News has reported that James Hardie CEO Aaron Erter said "Under Sam's leadership, we will continue to elevate our marketing capabilities, deepen customer engagement and successfully expand our market presence across North America."

Toole said "My focus is on showcasing the beauty, performance and sustainability of our products to drive growth across the entire value chain."


Kazakhstan: Construction has begun on a US$222m cement plant in the Alginsky district of the Aktobe region, developed in partnership with West China Cement. The facility will have a production capacity of 2Mt/yr and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Around 1000 workers are reportedly engaged in site preparation, including laying utility lines and building a dormitory for personnel. Once operational, the plant will create approximately 500 permanent jobs, according to Kazakhstan Newsline.

Regional governor Askhat Shakharov, during a visit to the site, said that the project will play a key role in boosting the region’s industrial capacity and strengthening cooperation with China. “The implementation of this project will help reduce dependence on cement imports and supply the domestic market with building materials. The main thing is to conduct the construction according to the schedule and in compliance with all technological requirements,” he said.


India: JSW Cement, part of JSW Group, has commissioned a 1Mt/yr cement grinding unit at Sambalpur, Odisha, through its subsidiary Shiva Cement. The addition raises JSW’s total installed capacity to 21.6 Mt/yr. According to the company, the new facility will help meet rising cement demand in eastern India. The project was developed and financed by Shiva Cement under a commercial arrangement with Bhushan Power and Steel, and will produce cement exclusively for Shiva Cement’s use and consumption.

JSW Cement CEO Nilesh Narwekar said “The eastern region of the country is poised for exponential growth in the coming years. This new state-of-the-art facility in Sambalpur marks a significant milestone in our journey to expand and consolidate our position in this market,” he said.

JSW Cement currently operates seven manufacturing plants across India, including one integrated unit, one clinker plant and five grinding units.


France: Cement producer Eqiom has inaugurated a €2.5m pilot station for the continuous injection of alternative fuels at its Rochefort-sur-Nenon plant. The new facility enables the injection of wood fines - treated wood residues sourced from local sawmills - directly into the kiln at a rate of 5000t/yr.

The facility has reduced its coal use from 30,000t/yr to 8000t/yr. Currently, more than 70% of the plant’s kiln fuel comes from alternative sources, with the site now targeting 80%. Since the 1990s, the plant has successively used liquid chemical waste, animal meal and solid recovered fuels (SRF), which together accounted for 50,000t in 2024. Eqiom is also developing new cement types with lower clinker content by incorporating more pozzolans, as part of its broader decarbonisation efforts.

Pierre Bernard, Eqiom’s head of cement manufacturing, noted that national cement production fell from 20Mt/yr in 2022 to 15Mt/yr in 2024, equivalent to 1960 levels, due to a decline in construction activity.


Spain: Cemex has signed a collaboration agreement with Enagás, through its subsidiary Scale Green Energy, to develop logistics solutions for the maritime transport of captured CO₂ from cement production, aiming to accelerate industrial decarbonisation. The partnership will explore options for transporting captured CO₂ via pipeline. It includes developing a full CO₂ value chain, from capture at Cemex facilities to maritime shipment in liquefied form aboard a new vessel designed by Scale Green Energy, to eventual delivery to a licensed storage site in southern Europe. Scale Green Energy plans to design a next-generation vessel with a capacity of 20,000m³ for the transport of liquefied CO₂, enabling flexible and efficient transport to multiple Mediterranean storage hubs.

Jesús Saldaña, general manager of business development and investee companies at Enagás, said “This alliance to develop comprehensive logistics for the maritime transport of captured CO₂ represents an opportunity for Enagás and Cemex to jointly lead innovation to help decarbonise the industry, boosting its competitiveness, and for Spain to play a leading role in achieving the European Commission's goal of capturing 50Mt of CO₂ by 2030.”

Benjamín Cabrera, director of cement and technology operations at Cemex Spain, added “To advance the decarbonisation of the cement industry, it is essential to develop large-scale logistics solutions that allow us to manage large volumes of CO₂ safely, efficiently, and competitively. This agreement lays the foundations for a pioneering infrastructure that will connect Cemex plants in Spain with the main storage hubs in the Mediterranean.”


Vietnam: Industry leaders have argued that co-processing of non-recyclable plastic waste in cement kilns could be a scalable solution to advance Vietnam’s sustainability and circular economy goals. At a workshop held in Hanoi on 2 October 2025, the Norwegian Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy, in partnership with the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA), concluded the OPTOCE Project (‘Ocean Plastic Turned into an Opportunity in Circular Economy’), funded by the Norwegian government.

Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken said “Combating marine plastics and climate change is a top priority for Norway – both globally and in Vietnam. Through OPTOCE, we’ve seen how science-based solutions like co-processing can transform plastic waste into a resource that benefits the climate, the economy and communities.”

OPTOCE was originally launched as a regional initiative in five countries, including Vietnam, and later expanded to eight countries across Asia. The workshop featured several presentations and a panel discussion focusing on the legal framework, potential waste supplies, and the practices and challenges in implementing co-processing in Vietnam.

Dr Kåre Helge Karstensen, chief scientist and programme manager of OPTOCE, added that the initiative has proven co-processing to be both technically feasible and environmentally sound. “The next step is to move beyond pilots and integrate this solution into national policy frameworks to drive systemic change,” he said.

Dr Lương Đức Long, VNCA vice president, said Vietnam’s cement industry is already applying co-processing successfully. “Co-processing waste in cement kilns is a safe and effective solution. We hope the government introduces specific policies and incentives that support enterprises and technology transfer. If we join forces, co-processing will turn wastes into ‘black gold’ and cement factories into ideal co-processing hubs,” he said.

Vietnam’s cement plants, including INSEE’s Hon Chong facility in Kien Giang and Lam Thach Green Cement (QNC)’s plant in the north, have piloted this approach since 2021, achieving thermal substitution rates of 35–40%.


Russia: CEMROS has inaugurated a new cement terminal in Novocheboksarsk, located on the cargo berth of the Cheboksary river port. The facility is designed to handle up to 50,000t/yr. Supplies to the terminal will be routed from CEMROS’s Sengileevsky branch in the Ulyanovsk region. By using river logistics, the company aims to ensure direct deliveries from plant to consumer, reduce reliance on road and rail during peak seasons, and maintain stable cement prices. The terminal will primarily serve enterprises in the Chuvash Republic and Mari El Republic which are engaged in major infrastructure projects. Test operations at the terminal are set to begin shortly, with full capacity expected to be achieved by the start of April 2026.

“The terminal expands the port’s capabilities and strengthens its position as the region’s logistics hub. It’s an investment in the republic’s infrastructure and an additional resource for the construction industry,” said Vanifatiy Shaikin, general director of the Cheboksary port.

Denis Nazarov, director of procurement and logistics at CEMROS, said “We are creating a sustainable supply chain and a network of river cement terminals that reduce delivery distances and guarantee consumers direct access to our products. River transport in the Volga-Kama basin offers enormous potential to efficiently supply construction materials to key regions.”


Vietnam: Cement production reached 137Mt in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 15% year-on-year increase, according to data from the National Statistics Office (NSO).

In September 2025, output totalled 16.2Mt, up by 28% compared to the same month in 2024. The NSO’s revised figures show that Vietnam produced 184Mt of cement in 2024, a 3.5% increase year-on-year.


Argentina: Cement dispatches in September 2025 reached 0.92Mt, a 0.5% increase compared to September 2024 and up by 3% from August 2025, according to data from the AFCP. Domestic shipments in September 2025 totalled 0.92Mt, while exports amounted to 5166t. Cumulative cement deliveries from January to September 2025 reached 7.5Mt, representing a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.


Pakistan: Flying Cement reported a profit after tax of US$2.27m for the year ending 30 June 2025, a sharp rise from US$0.18m in the 2024 financial year. Net sales more than doubled to US$39.8m, supported by strong volume growth and favourable market conditions. Gross profit increased to US$6m, while operating profit rose to US$4.2m from US$0.65m the previous year.


Mexico: Cemex has completed the sale of its operations in Panama to Dominican-Republic based industrial conglomerate Grupo Estrella for an enterprise value of approximately US$200m. The divested assets include a 1.2Mt/yr capacity cement plant in Calzada Larga, Chilibre, along with related ready-mix, aggregates operations, and rights to acquire additional reserves. Cemex has increased its holdings to a majority stake in US-based Couch Aggregates, using a small portion of the Panama sale proceeds to offset the EBITDA impact from the divestment.

“These transactions are important building blocks in our strategy to rebalance our portfolio and continue investing in growth in priority markets,” said Jaime Muguiro, CEO of Cemex.


UK: Environment consultancy Arup has been appointed by Peak Cluster to lead the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and prepare the technical documentation for the development consent order (DCO) for the Peak Cluster project. Around 40% of all the UK’s cement and lime is produced across Derbyshire and Staffordshire, according to Arup, supporting over 2000 jobs but emitting more than 3Mt/yr of CO₂.

To address this challenge, Peak Cluster will develop carbon capture facilities at cement and lime production plants operated by Tarmac, Buxton Lime, Breedon, and Holcim. The captured CO₂ will be transported via a proposed underground pipeline to Spirit Energy’s planned geological storage site, Morecambe Net Zero (MNZ), for permanent storage.

Supported by AECOM and Quod, Arup will oversee the delivery of the EIA and DCO, covering the consenting of the proposed pipeline and the carbon capture facilities, including a detailed assessment of environmental effects on the surrounding areas during both construction and operation. The evaluation will also consider the interface with Spirit Energy’s offshore infrastructure for CO₂ storage.

Richard Lowe, director of energy consenting and development at Arup, said “We are delighted to be playing such a key role in the development of this transformative project, in which the UK National Wealth Fund has invested, and to build on our deep involvement from its earliest stages. Peak Cluster is working to secure a sustainable future for the UK cement and lime industry and act as a blueprint for similar developments across Europe and the rest of the world.”

John Egan, CEO of Peak Cluster, added “Peak Cluster is focused on securing a sustainable future for the cement and lime industry. Together with MNZ, the UK’s biggest carbon store, we will capture, transport and store CO₂ to help the industry thrive in a low-carbon future. This essential infrastructure will secure good jobs with good wages, produce sought-after low-carbon products here in Britain, grow the UK’s supply chain and skills base, secure private investment and lead the global low-carbon technology sector.”


Germany: Rohrdorfer has inaugurated a new pilot plant for tempered clays at its Rohrdorf cement facility in a ceremony attended by regional and state officials. They included Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Ministry of the Interior Daniela Ludwig, who cut the ribbon alongside Rohrdorfer managing director Mike Edelmann.

The pilot plant has been operational since July 2025 and activates up to 50t/day of raw clay through thermal treatment. Tempered clays can replace clinker in cement, reportedly helping to cut emissions by around 30%, according to the company. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the EU, and will receive up to €8.65m in funding.

Daniela Ludwig said “With this new plant, the Rohrdorf cement plant is once again proving that it is one of the most innovative companies in our region. Decarbonising the cement industry is a key task if Germany is to achieve its climate goals as planned.”

By the end of 2026, Rohrdorfer’s Net Zero Emission team will determine the optimal composition of raw clays and refine the thermal treatment process, paving the way for a large-scale facility capable of achieving up to 60% CO₂ reductions.

Mike Edelmann said “We’ve achieved a lot within our plants, but our influence ends at the factory gates. The lack of planning security regarding CO₂ transport and storage, uncompetitive electricity prices and an uncertain mining landscape are holding us back. We urgently need more support from policymakers if climate targets are to be met.”


India: Ambuja Cements, part of the Adani Group, will build a new cement grinding unit within the industrial estate of Adani Gangavaram Port. The project, spread across eight hectares, will be developed entirely within the port’s existing industrial zone. The facility will use industrial by-products such as slag and fly ash sourced from nearby steel and power plants. Raw materials will be transported via rail and sea to reduce CO₂ emissions associated with logistics.


Indonesia: Indocement, through its subsidiary PT Semen Bosowa Maros, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the city of Makassar’s government to collaborate on the use of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) generated from the city’s waste management system.

The agreement was signed by Syamsul Rijal, Director of PT Semen Bosowa Maros, and Munafri Arifuddin, Mayor of Makassar, in the presence of company representatives.


Syria: The Ministry of Economy and Industry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iraq’s Vertex Investment Group to rehabilitate and expand the Hama Cement plant. The agreement covers the rehabilitation and operation of the plant’s third line, increasing capacity from 3300t/day to 5000t/day of clinker within 13 months. It also includes the construction of a new 6000t/day line, which will raise the plant’s total production capacity to around 11,000t/day over the next five years. The MoU also provides for worker training, application of international quality standards, and compliance with environmental and occupational safety requirements.


Denmark: TotalEnergies, through its subsidiary TotalEnergies E&P Denmark, has signed a Farm-Down Agreement with CarbonVault, the Danish affiliate of German cement producer Schwenk, for the Bifrost carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. Under the deal, TotalEnergies will operate the project with a 45% interest, while CarbonVault will hold 35% and state-owned oil and gas company Nordsøfonden 20%. The Bifrost Project covers two offshore CO₂ storage licenses located about 200km west of the Danish coast and forms part of TotalEnergies’ broader North Sea CCS portfolio. Schwenk has identified Bifrost as its preferred solution for storing future emissions, aligning with its European decarbonisation strategy.

Arnaud Le Foll, senior vice president new business – carbon neutrality at TotalEnergies, said “We look forward to working with our new partner to ensure the successful deployment of the Bifrost Project, a cornerstone of Denmark’s national ambition to establish a European hub for CO₂ storage.”

Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals.


Bulgaria: Zlatna Panega Cement, part of Greece-based Titan Group, has achieved a 65% rate of thermal substitution of fossil fuels with alternative fuels for four consecutive months. The company’s 5MW solar plant supplies between 11% and 13% of its energy needs.

General director Adamantios Francis said “We have achieved a historic success for our plant. With this, we prove that we are committed to sustainable development and are ready to lead the industry towards a greener future.”

Titan Group’s long-term strategy includes cutting energy consumption by 58% compared with 2020 levels and reducing direct net CO₂ emissions to 500kg/t of cement. At Zlatna Panega, CO₂ emissions in 2024 were 839kg/t of clinker, while electricity-related emissions fell by 38% year-on-year.


Morocco: Cement deliveries reached 1.22Mt in September 2025, up by 12.5% year-on-year, according to figures reported by L’Economiste newspaper. Cumulative deliveries for the first nine months of the year stood at 10.9Mt, marking an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2024, data from the Ministry of Regional Planning, Urban Development, Housing, and Urban Policy showed.

The ministry said the results reflect ‘robust domestic demand, stimulated by major infrastructure projects, public housing programs, and the recovery of private investment in the real estate sector.’


Pakistan: Cement despatches, including both domestic despatches and exports, rose by 16% year-on-year to 12.2Mt in the first quarter of the 2026 financial year, up from 10.5Mt in the same period in 2024, according to data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). Domestic sales grew by 15% to 9.57Mt, compared to 8.32Mt in 2024, while exports jumped by 21% to 2.59Mt, up from 2.14Mt.

On a monthly basis, dispatches surged by 31% in July and 13.5% in August 2025, before moderating to 7% growth in September 2025, when volumes reached 4.25Mt compared with 3.97Mt a year earlier. In September 2025, local sales rose by 14% to 3.42Mt, up from 2.99Mt in September 2024, while exports dropped by 15% to 0.83Mt, against 0.98Mt a year earlier.


France: Ecocem has inaugurated a new €10m research and innovation centre to advance its low-carbon cement technologies and accelerate industry decarbonisation. The 3300m² facility will focus on developing scalable solutions to reduce reliance on clinker. It will build on Ecocem’s ACT technology, which the company says already enables up to 70% emission reductions, with the aim of providing the cement sector with a pathway to net zero by 2040.

Donal O’Riain, founder and global managing director of Ecocem, said “For 25 years, Ecocem has focused exclusively on low-carbon cement technologies. With ACT, our scalable low carbon cement technology close to commercial availability, the new centre will allow us to go further and faster. We will build on the 18Mt of CO₂ reductions already achieved and accelerate the development of solutions that can deliver net zero cement by 2040, 10 years ahead of schedule.”


Switzerland: Cement deliveries in the second quarter of 2025 reached 0.99Mt, an increase of 3% compared with the same period in 2024, according to Cemsuisse. The positive trend that began at the end of 2024 has reportedly continued, supported by low interest rates that have boosted construction activity.

The construction sector is expected to remain resilient over the coming quarters, allowing for positive forecasts for cement deliveries. Rail transport of cement, however, continued to decline, with just 35% of Swiss cement volumes shipped by train, down by 3% from the same quarter in 2024. This drop was attributed to the persistent deterioration of rail freight conditions. Meanwhile, low-clinker cements with reduced CO₂ emissions accounted for nearly 98% of all deliveries.


Kenya: Equator Energy has commissioned a 10MW captive solar power plant at Mombasa Cement’s Vipingo facility in Kilifi County. The new installation will reduce the producer’s reliance on the national grid, reduce CO₂ emissions and deliver ‘substantial’ cost savings, according to Equator Energy’s post on LinkedIn. During construction, around 100 temporary jobs were created, while 15 permanent roles have been established to support ongoing operations. The project was implemented under a power purchase agreement (PPA) and is part of broader efforts to boost renewable energy adoption in Kenya’s industrial sector.


Philippines: The Tariff Commission (TC) has recommended the imposition of a US$1.24/t safeguard duty on cement imports to protect the domestic industry from rising competition.

The commission said domestic cement qualifies as a ‘like product’ and directly competes with imports, which have been arriving in increased volumes. It concluded that the increase in imports had caused serious injury to local producers.

The proposed safeguard covers ordinary Portland cement type 1 and blended cement. It is designed as a temporary measure to provide relief and allow the local industry time to adjust to import pressures. The impact is expected to be greater on lower-priced shipments, as the equivalent ad valorem rate will depend on the import value. Cement imports from developing countries with de minimis volumes, including Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand will be exempt. The Department of Trade and Industry will determine whether new exporting countries qualify under this exemption. The commission also clarified that the safeguard is temporary and will be gradually liberalised, allowing competition to normalise over time.


Bangladesh: The Coast Guard has arrested 24 smugglers and seized 850 bags of cement being trafficked by boat from Bangladesh to Myanmar in exchange for drugs.

Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq said the Coast Guard’s Chattogram Base launched the operation on 30 September 2025 after receiving confidential intelligence, according to local press. Officers intercepted a transfer of cement from a cargo ship to a fishing boat in the Bay of Bengal, bypassing customs and taxes. Two boats involved in the smuggling were confiscated.

The Coast Guard noted that cement smuggling through waterways to Rakhine has intensified in recent months amid deteriorating relations between the two sides.