Global Cement Newsletter

Issue: GCW753 / 01 April 2026

Headlines


The cement sector in China may have turned a corner in 2025. Cement output and revenue from some of the largest producers continued to fall. However, profits at some of them rose in 2025. The signs from the start of 2026 suggest that national production may have recovered from the levels seen early in 2025.

Graph 1: Cement output in China, 2020 to 2025. Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China.

Graph 1: Cement output in China, 2020 to 2025. Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China continues to show the declining trend in production since 2020. Output fell by just under 8.5% year-on-year to 1.67Bnt in 2025 from 1.83Bnt in 2024. The China Cement Association (CCA) noted that real estate investment fell by 17% to US$120bn in 2025. Yet, as mentioned above, the picture has started to look more positive in 2026. Cement production grew by 7% year-on-year to 178Mt in January and February. Whether this trend will continue in 2026 remains to be seen.

Graph 2: Sales revenue from selected Chinese cement producers. Source: Company financial reports.

Graph 2: Sales revenue from selected Chinese cement producers. Source: Company financial reports.

Graph 3: Sales volumes of cement and clinker from selected Chinese cement producers. Source: Company financial reports.

Graph 3: Sales volumes of cement and clinker from selected Chinese cement producers. Source: Company financial reports.

Looking at the major cement producers in China, CNBM’s sales revenue and profit fell in 2025. This was mainly due to the declining price of heavy building materials, including cement, and a decrease in sales volumes. Total sales of cement and clinker, for example, fell by 11.5% to 217Mt in 2025 from 245Mt in 2024. CNBM also noted an impairment provision of around US$400m for “the exit of capacity in respect of certain cement and clinker production lines in the course of production capacity replacement and other factors…” As Graph 1 shows above, cement production in China has been shrinking and companies like CNBM are paying for this by retiring their production lines.

In comparison, Anhui Conch’s revenue fell but its profit rose in 2025. It increased its profit by improving its efficiency and cutting costs. It also managed to keep its drop in cement and clinker sales volumes lower than the industry average by increasing overseas and export sales. The group was also keen to point out that its installed capacity of wind, photovoltaic power generation and energy storage reached 1377MW by the end of 2025.

BBMG had a tougher time of it in 2025 with revenue down significantly and profit much reduced. However, this was caused by a major decrease in revenue from the group’s property development business. Sales volumes of cement and clinker fell by 1% to 83Mt in 2025 but booked gross-floor area from the property development business plummeted by 52% to 532,000m2. Building materials made up 70% of group revenue in 2024. In 2025 they made up 86%.

As has been usual in recent years, Huaxin Cement performed best out of the larger cement producers featured here. Its revenue and profits grew in 2025. This was due to its growing overseas business that reached 20Mt in 2025, up by 25%. Domestically, cement and clinker sales volumes fell slightly. Notably, operating revenue from the overseas part of the business surpassed that of the Central China Region, becoming the group’s largest division. The company completed its acquisition of Nigeria-based Lafarge Africa in 2025. It also achieved the successful maiden voyage of its first self-owned international cargo vessel, to Mozambique.

Finally, China Resources Building Materials Technology (CRBMT) reported falling turnover but rising profit. Cement sales volumes were down but concrete and aggregate volumes were up. The group noted that average prices for cement, concrete and aggregates all fell in 2025. The profits appear to have risen due to cutting costs in a variety of ways.

The financial results above are just a snapshot from some of the larger cement companies in China. However, the picture is starting to look better than it has in previous years. Some commentators are even starting to predict modest profit rises in 2026 with price rises reported in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jilin and other provinces in March 2026. The domestic profits reported at the cement companies covered here mostly appeared to be related to cost cutting. It’s a start though for a sector that has been adjusting downwards over the last five years. The next step will be to stabilise sales volumes of cement. One hurdle in 2026 will be how local cement companies and the wider Chinese economy deal with the energy shock from the Iran war. China is reportedly better prepared for higher oil prices compared to many of its Asian neighbours but there may be many unforeseen consequences.


India: JK Cement has appointed Nitish Chopra as the Group President & Business Head of its White Cement & Paints business. He previously worked as the Business Head for the White Cement & Paints division from 2024 and was the Deputy Head from 2023.

Chopra has worked for JK Cement since 2008 starting as its Head of Branding & Communication before moving into business strategy in 2018 and then the paints business in 2022. He holds an undergraduate degree in commerce from Sri Venkateswara College and a master’s of business administration (MBA) qualification from the Modern School.


Malaysia: Aalborg Portland Malaysia has appointed Dinçer Oruç as the plant manager of its Ipoh white cement plant.

Oruç previously worked as Plant Operations Manager for Vencement in Venezuela from late 2025. Before this he was the plant manager for a boron carbide facility for TRBOR Boron Technologies in Türkiye from 2022 to 2025. Earlier in his career he was a Production Manager for Cementir and a Quality Manager for Aşkale Çimento. Oruç started his professional experience working in production and quality control jobs for Çimentaş from 2002 to 2016. He holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, a master’s degree in inorganic chemistry and is currently working towards a PhD in alternative energy from Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University. He also possesses a master of business administration (MBA) qualification from Istanbul University.


Italy: Buzzi reported consolidated net sales of €4.52bn in 2025, up by 5% year-on-year compared to the previous year, with like-for-like growth of 0.5%. Recurring earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled €1.24bn in 2025, down by 3%. Cement and clinker sales increased to 31.9Mt in 2025 from 26.3Mt in 2024, representing a 21% increase, although on a like-for-like basis cement volumes were broadly stable compared to the previous year.

The company said that the global economy ‘demonstrated a solid capacity for resilience’ in 2025, despite trade tensions and geopolitical pressures. Growth in Europe, however, remained subdued due to weak domestic demand and limited investment. Germany exhibited particularly ‘fragile’ dynamics, whereas Italy recorded ‘modest but positive’ growth. The US economy continued to expand supported by domestic demand. Among the main emerging markets in which Buzzi operates, Brazil saw growth driven by domestic demand while Mexico recorded weak economic expansion, with ‘stagnant’ domestic demand and pressure on consumption. The UAE experienced strong growth supported by both the energy sector and non-oil sectors, particularly construction, tourism and financial services.

Looking ahead to 2026, Buzzi expects ‘broadly stable’ global growth supported by infrastructure investment and technology innovation, but warned that geopolitical tensions could increase operating costs. It said “In addition to the already known downside risks -among which geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts in various regions and uncertainties surrounding international trade – the recent developments in the Middle East introduce a further significant risk element compared to the macroeconomic and operating scenario initially envisaged for 2026. In particular, a likely increase in energy prices could have a material impact on the trend of our operating costs.”

In Italy, Buzzi said that residential construction is expected to decline according to the latest estimates, and it expects some slowdown in its sales volumes compared to the previous year. It said that pricing trends are also expected to be influenced by carbon costs linked to the EU emissions trading system (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and a possible revision of the ETS trading system in 2026.


India: Mangalam Cement has announced the commissioning of an additional 1.20Mt/yr of cement grinding capacity at its Aligarh unit in Uttar Pradesh. The unit’s total grinding capacity has now increased to 1.95Mt/yr. The company said the expansion will improve its ability to serve markets more efficiently and improve logistics optimisation and market reach. Following the expansion, the company’s total grey cement manufacturing capacity now stands at 5.60Mt/yr.


Malaysia: Tasek Cement launched its inaugural freight train service on 30 March 2026, transporting cement from its Ipoh plant to PGU in Johor Bahru via KTMB’s rail cargo network. The train transported 840t of cement using 31 wagons for distribution across the Johor Bahru region and surrounding areas. The company said the service supports the government’s ‘Road to Rail’ initiative, with each train run replacing at least 31 heavy trucks/day to help reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety and lower CO₂ emissions.

The launch ceremony was attended by representatives from Tasek Cement’s management, packaging and supply chain divisions, as well as KTMB cargo services management and logistics partners involved in the rail operation.


Kyrgyzstan: The production capacity of Kyrgyzstan’s cement industry is more than double domestic consumption. Installed capacity is 8.40Mt/yr compared to actual production of 4.25Mt in 2025, according to a report by Akchabar using figures provided by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.

Production increased from 3.12Mt in 2024 and has grown steadily from around 2Mt in 2019, but the industry remains significantly underutilised despite rising construction activity. Five major cement producers operate in the country: Kant Cement Plant with a capacity of 1.2Mt/yr; Sinji-Pirim with 1.0Mt/yr; South Kyrgyz Cement with 2.0Mt/yr; Aravan Cement Plant with 1.2Mt/yr; and Terek-Tash with 3.0Mt/yr, bringing total national capacity to 8.4Mt/yr. Despite steady production growth in recent years, demand growth has reportedly not been sufficient to fully utilise existing cement production capacity in the country.


Ghana: Ghana’s minority party in Parliament has accused the government of lifting restrictions on cement imports, warning that the move could harm local manufacturers by increasing foreign competition in the domestic market, according to local press.

Michael Okyere Baafi, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Trade and Industry Committee, said "When we were in government, we closed down SOL cement, we closed down Empire Cement, these companies came back when NDC got to power. We internationally restricted the importation of cement and even the establishment of cement companies in Ghana, but now they have opened the space again for cement companies to come in."

Baafi criticised the current government for reopening the market to imports, arguing that the move could flood the market and weaken domestic investment, especially amid rising production costs and currency pressures.


Peru: Holcim has acquired a majority stake in Cementos Pacasmayo, in a deal valuing the Peru-based building materials producer at around US$1.5bn. Holcim said that it plans to launch a mandatory public tender offer to acquire additional shares in the company following the transaction, as is required by Peruvian law. Holcim said that the acquisition expands its building materials and solutions portfolio in Peru and is expected to support profitable growth in Latin America. The company welcomed more than 2000 employees from Cementos Pacasmayo to the group.

Cementos Pacasmayo operates three cement plants with a combined production capacity of approximately 5Mt/yr, as well as 28 ready-mix and precast concrete plants. The company reported net sales of US$630m in 2025.


Dominican Republic: Cementos Cibao has inaugurated a new clinker production line at its plant in Santiago during a ceremony attended by President Luis Abinader and Vice President Raquel Peña. The new line has a production capacity of 3500t/day of clinker and incorporates automation technology, emissions control systems and ‘optimal’ particle filtration, according to local press. The company said that construction of the new line had been underway for a year. The line was built by Sinoma and the company said that it will support exports to the Caribbean and other markets.

“We are very proud to be a company committed to the development of the country and the care of our environment. That is why we made every effort to ensure that this facility incorporates the technology to reduce and control emissions in real time. In this way, we comply with the strictest environmental parameters and improve our operational standards,” said Rayza Rodríguez de Cruz, Second Vice President of Cementos Cibao.


France: Vicat’s VAIA (Vicat Advanced Industrial Alliance) carbon capture project has been selected for funding under the EU Innovation Fund 2024 programme, receiving a grant of €150m. The project will be developed at the Montalieu-Vercieu cement plant in Isère and aims to capture and store ‘nearly all’ CO₂ emissions from the facility, equivalent to around 1.2Mt/yr of CO₂. According to Vicat, the plant is the largest cement production site in France by capacity. The VAIA project also includes the development of a broader CO₂ value chain in the Rhône Valley capable of handling up to 4Mt/yr of CO₂, covering capture, transport, utilisation, liquefaction and storage.

Studies for the project are currently ongoing and a final investment decision is expected in 2027. The project is also supported by the French government under the Major Industrial Decarbonisation Projects initiative announced in February 2026.


Saudi Arabia: Southern Province Cement reported a net loss of US$13m for the year ending 31 December 2025, compared to a net profit of US$51m in 2024. The company also reported an operating loss of US$11m in 2025, compared to an operating profit of US$60.5m in the previous year. Southern Province Cement attributed the decline in profitability to lower revenues and higher cost of sales, driven by increased input costs and lower utilisation rates of production lines. Additional factors included inventory adjustments related to raw materials, as well as the impact of revised depreciation for assets linked to old production lines at the Jazan cement plant, which were replaced by a new production line.


Philippines: DAL Engineering recently completed a cyclone modification project at CRH’s cement plant in Bulacan, covering full engineering scope from design through to on-site technical supervision, according to a post by the supplier on Linkedin. The work focused on upgrading the preheater top cyclone to improve pyro-process efficiency and operational stability. The company said that execution involved close coordination with the plant's operations team to minimise downtime and work within the constraints of the existing infrastructure.

On-site supervision covered the full installation sequence: dismantling of the existing cyclone; new unit installation; riser duct modifications; welding; geometric alignment; and structural adjustments as conditions required. DAL said that the upgraded system has since achieved stable operation.


India: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is expected to increase cement production costs in India as rising imported fuel prices impact the sector, according to The Financial Express. Prices of imported petcoke and coal have already increased by 11% and 7% respectively since the start of the conflict, with further volatility expected. India relies heavily on imported petcoke, with around 50% coming from the US and about 30% from West Asian countries.

Producers are expected to increase the use of domestic fuels to offset higher import costs. Refiners are also increasingly focusing on gas production, which could limit the availability of refinery byproducts such as petcoke – cement companies are reportedly in conversation with refineries to tackle the issue.


South Korea: Hanil Cement will deploy drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) for inventory management and equipment inspections at its Danyang plant, according to Chosun Biz news. 10 employees have obtained piloting qualifications to operate the drones. After a trial run, the drones will be deployed in April 2026.

The company said that the industrial drones are equipped with AI software that can recognise spaces and convert them into 3D maps, allowing the drones to fly safely in narrow indoor areas and accurately measure inventory volumes stored in warehouses. Hanil Cement said that one of the main advantages of the drones is improved safety, as they can be deployed instead of workers to inspect dusty, confined spaces and high structures, reducing the risk of asphyxiation accidents and falls. The drones can also measure pipe thickness and assess corrosion or wear during inspections. They also reportedly save time and money by eliminating the need for external inventory measurement services and temporary scaffolding for equipment inspections. Inventory checks, previously conducted once per quarter, are now carried out monthly.

A spokesperson from Hanil Cement said "The drones introduced for worker safety are also helping with efficient plant operations. We plan to gradually expand the scope of operations by adding functions such as thermal imaging to the drones and sharing them among plants.”


Saudi Arabia: Najran Cement has secured US$14m in bank financing from Saudi National Bank to support its electrical grid connection project. The financing was obtained through Shariah-compliant facilities and will be repaid over a period of two years in annual instalments, including a grace period of six months.

Najran Cement announced that it had awarded a contract for the project to Sinoma International Engineering earlier in March 2026. The project is intended to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on liquid fuels for power generation at its Sultana plant under the Liquid Fuel Displacement programme.


Nepal: State-owned Hetauda Cement Industry is facing severe financial difficulties and continues to operate intermittently, despite recently resuming clinker production after a long shutdown, according to Ratopati news. The company is reportedly burdened with debts of around US$8.2m and has not paid employees their salaries for nine months. The plant once employed around 1100 workers, but now has only 136 staff remaining, with some employees working double or triple shifts due to staff shortages.

Bhakti Ram Shrestha, deputy manager at the plant, said that the company has been struggling financially for the past three to four years and lacks funds to purchase raw materials or spare parts for damaged machinery. Rubin Majhi, who works in the ‘kiln department’, said that the plant’s ageing equipment contributes to low production levels, but that electricity costs still reach around US$244,000 per month.

Management has submitted proposals to the government, including a request for a US$1.6m loan to resume operations and repay debts, but no approvals have been granted so far.

Majhi said that the plant would need modern equipment capable of producing 2800-3000t/day of cement to become financially viable.


India: The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UltraTech Cement to support skill development and capacity building in India’s construction sector. The agreement was signed by Dr L P Singh, Director General of NCB, and Rahul Goel, Head of Technical Services at UltraTech Cement, at NCB’s Ballabgarh facility. The collaboration will focus on structured training and certification programmes for civil engineers, ready-mix concrete professionals, contractors, construction workers and masons. Training programmes will cover areas including material quality testing, concrete mix design, durability and sustainable construction practices. The initiative will also include workshops, site demonstrations, technical seminars and plant visits to improve practical knowledge and technical skills.


Nigeria: According to Dangote Cement’s audited financial statements, the company exported 970,100t of clinker to Cameroon and Ghana in 2025, shipped via 34 vessels. This volume represents a 7% increase compared to 2024. Cameroon and Ghana accounted for 69% of Nigeria’s clinker exports, while total clinker exports reached 1.4Mt in 2025, up by 19% year-on-year.

The clinker shipments helped to sustain production at Dangote Cement’s Cameroon-based subsidiary, which saw local sales fall by 14% in 2025, with volumes from the 1.5Mt/yr-capacity Douala plant declining to 1.2Mt from 1.4Mt in 2024.

Despite the weaker performance in 2025, Dangote Cement expects demand in Cameroon to improve in 2026, supported by ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Douala–Yaoundé highway and other road and bridge developments.

The company is also considering expanding its production capacity in Cameroon, either by expanding the existing Douala plant or reviving the long-delayed Nomayos cement plant project near Yaoundé. However, this project has been on hold for more than a decade. This forms part of a broader expansion plan across several African countries under a US$1bn contract signed with Sinoma Engineering in February 2026.


Lebanon: Cimenterie Nationale, producer of Al Sabeh Cement, has announced it will cease cement production and delivery operations after more than 70 years of activity and has asked its employees ‘to stay at home,’ according to Annahar news. The company said it had suffered heavy losses in recent years due to an inability to operate its quarries, after local authorities reportedly refused to grant it the necessary permits.

In 2024, Lebanon’s Council of State issued a final decision confirming the company’s right to obtain the permit, but the decision has not yet been implemented by the government. Cimenterie Nationale said it submitted a new application in June 2025 for a ten-year permit, but approval has still not been granted.


Egypt: KHD is working with Amreyah Cement on a pyroprocess upgrade at its Borg El Arab cement plant, aimed at increasing alternative fuel use and improving plant efficiency. The scope of supply includes the installation of a Pyrorotor combustion reactor for alternative fuel processing, a preheater with high-efficiency cyclones and a new calciner within the existing structure, Pyrobox burners for calciner firing and a new Pyrojet main kiln burner. The project also includes installation of a new ID fan, tertiary air duct and downcomer duct.

KHD said that the Pyrorotor integration will enable higher alternative fuel substitution rates, improved combustion efficiency and enhanced process stability using low-quality, locally available fuels with minimal preprocessing.

Senior director of sales at KHD Farid Salehi said “This project underscores our commitment to delivering high-performance, innovative pyroprocessing solutions, while highlighting the strength of our partnership with Amreyah Cement in Egypt.”


Pakistan: Local cement despatches are projected to decline by 4% year-on-year to 2.98Mt in March 2026, based on sales of 2.13Mt recorded in the first 24 days of the month, which included a three-day Eid period with no sales activity. On a month-on-month basis, local despatches are expected to fall by 14%, mainly due to seasonal slowdown during Ramadan and Eid holidays. In contrast, exports in March 2026 are forecast to rise by 10% year-on-year, supported by increased sea-based shipments from southern producers, while northern exports remain affected by border disruptions.

Total cement sales for March 2026 are expected to reach around 3.65Mt, representing a 2% year-on-year decline and a 13% month-on-month decline. However, total cement sales for the first nine months of the 2026 financial year are projected to reach 38.4Mt, up by 10% year-on-year, driven largely by domestic demand. Cement capacity utilisation in March 2026 is estimated at 52%, compared to 60% in February 2026 and 53% in March 2025.


US: Electrified Thermal Solutions has opened a new headquarters and production facility in the Boston area, expanding manufacturing capacity for its electrically-conductive firebricks used in industrial thermal energy storage systems. The new facility will manufacture the company’s proprietary E-Bricks used in its Joule Hive Thermal Battery system, with production capacity sufficient to support more than 500MWh/yr of Joule Hive deployments. The expansion is intended to support growing demand from industrial sectors such as cement, steel and mining.

The investment builds on a recent partnership with HarbisonWalker International (HWI), part of Calderys, which supplies key raw materials and may adopt manufacturing processes developed at the Boston facility. The Joule Hive Thermal Battery uses oxide-based conductive firebricks capable of delivering temperatures of up to 1800°C with a projected lifespan of 20 - 30 years. The company aims to deploy 2GW of thermal power capacity by 2030 through the technology.

"Bringing E-Brick manufacturing to scale represents a major milestone in our journey to electrify industrial heat," said Joey Kabel, co-founder of Electrified Thermal Solutions. "This facility allows us to refine our manufacturing processes and accelerate scalability both internally and with refractory partners. We're positioned to deliver on our commitment to provide cost-competitive, zero-carbon heat to industries worldwide," he said.


Romania: Holcim Romania has signed a funding agreement with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency for the Carbon Hub CPT01 carbon capture and storage project, supported by the EU Innovation Fund. Developed in partnership with Carmeuse, the project will capture CO₂ emissions from both cement and lime production for permanent geological storage. It will enable the production of approximately 2Mt/yr of ‘nearly zero-emission cement’ and 200,000t/yr of lime with ‘nearly zero emissions.’ The carbon capture system will process flue gases from the two sites located in the Câmpulung industrial area.

CEO of Holcim Romania Bogdan Dobre said “The signing of this financing agreement with CINEA marks a defining moment for our Carbon Hub CPT01 project and for the decarbonisation of the construction sector in Eastern Europe. Through this initiative, we aim to demonstrate that large-scale carbon capture can accelerate the transition to near-zero emission cement, while supporting Romania’s role in Europe’s climate and industrial transformation.”


Lithuania: The CCS Baltic Consortium has presented plans for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain and a CO₂ transshipment terminal in Klaipėda, as part of efforts to decarbonise industrial sectors such as cement. The consortium includes KN Energies, cement producers Akmenės Cementas and Schwenk Latvija, and shipping companies Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Larvik Shipping. The CCS Baltic Consortium aims to establish the first CCS value chain in the Baltic region and was launched in 2022. The system will cover CO₂ capture at cement plants, liquefaction, transport and shipment to long-term storage sites under the North Sea.

“This will be the first infrastructure of its kind in the Baltic States, creating conditions for rapid decarbonisation of industry in Lithuania and across the region. It will enhance regional competitiveness by modernising industrial sectors, create new jobs, contribute to Lithuania’s climate neutrality goals, and attract new investments and innovation to the Baltic economies,” says Rūta Tumėnienė, head of new energies at KN Energies.

A key component of the project is the planned CO₂ transshipment terminal in Klaipėda, where KN Energies is undertaking an environmental impact assessment for the construction and operation of the terminal, in order to prepare for the final investment decision. The terminal is scheduled for completion by 2030. The infrastructure will initially serve cement plants in Lithuania and Latvia, with plans to later operate on an open-access basis for other industries.


Türkiye: The Turkish Cement Manufacturers' Association (Türkçimento) has issued a strategic statement addressing the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), calling for EU recognition of Türkiye’s national monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) emissions data to ensure fair competition. The association warned that current EU CBAM default emission values may overstate actual emissions from Turkish cement producers, potentially increasing carbon costs from around €20/t to €80/t of clinker. It said that this could threaten the economic sustainability of exports to the EU.

Türkçimento CEO Volkan Bozay said that Türkiye’s cement sector has operated within an EU-aligned MRV system since 2015 and that low-emission dry-process kilns are used at all of its facilities. He said that actual export data for exports to the EU during the CBAM transition period showed that emissions for grey cement clinker are around 0.88t of CO₂ per tonne of cement, while the default value of 1.551t of CO₂ per tonne is applied to Türkiye under the ‘other countries’ category. He said the difference creates additional costs that do not reflect actual emission performance and could ultimately increase prices for EU consumers.

He added "To prevent CBAM from becoming a de facto trade barrier, national values based on EU-aligned MRV data should be used instead of general 'other countries' default values. Until the verification infrastructure becomes fully operational, actual emission data should be taken as the basis and disproportionate financial burdens should be avoided. Otherwise, as a system that fails to distinguish between low-carbon production and the most carbon-intensive production, CBAM will not effectively support low-carbon manufacturing and may instead function as a non-tariff technical barrier.”


UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has promoted Martin Casey to the role of Senior Director for Cement and Lime, succeeding Diana Casey (no relation), who will leave the organisation in April 2026 for a new role.

Martin Casey previously worked at Cemex for more than 20 years, most recently as Director for Communications, Public Affairs and Social Impact. He joined the MPA as a consultant in 2025 to support the association’s engagement with the government as it increases calls for policy action to address competitiveness challenges facing the UK cement sector.

Casey said “UK cement and lime are at a turning point. We’re up against some difficult challenges, but we also have an opportunity to secure a sustainable domestic industry that supports growth, national resilience and the transition to net zero. We need to continue championing both sectors and to make the case for fair and competitive conditions. Diana has done excellent work to highlight the issues, and I look forward to picking up the mantle, working with members and colleagues to ensure that UK cement and lime thrive in the long term, and to remind policymakers that both are indispensable to our shared ambitions.”

Chris Leese, executive chair of the MPA, said “At a time when UK cement and lime need a clear, confident voice, Martin is exceptionally well placed to build on the important work done by Diana and lead our efforts, support our members and help secure the future of a strong, competitive and sustainable domestic industry. On behalf of the MPA and our members, I would also like to thank Diana for her work advancing the interests of our sector over the past 15 years. She has been a brilliant colleague and friend to many and we wish her well in her future career.”