Global Cement Newsletter

Issue: GCW760 / 20 May 2026

Headlines


A major South African manufacturers’ association came out swinging this week, raising what it sees as the alarm over decline on the horizon for the nation’s cement plants. Philippa Rodseth, the Executive Director of Manufacturing Circle, said that West China Cement’s (WCC) acquisition of AfriSam risked creating a pan-southern African cement giant that would likely cause South African capacity to close in favour of imports from cheaper markets abroad. A quick look at Manufacturing Circle’s website reveals its three main aims: to advocate for a competitive manufacturing environment; to attain a proactive international trade position, and; to advance the reputation of South African manufactured products.1 The association, which represents many South African manufacturers across a range of industries, clearly feels that the ongoing acquisition is against all three of these.

Rodseth’s point of contention seems to be that WCC, having attained AfriSam’s South African assets, will systematically import cement from its plants across South Africa’s borders, particularly those in Mozambique. As part of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), Mozambique enjoys zero tariffs for cement exports to other members, including South Africa. With lower production costs in Mozambique, one does not need too much of an imagination to see what might unfold. If WCC can use its combined assets effectively, it will gain a price advantage over producers that operate in South Africa. With South African capacity utilisation floating at around 60% so far in the 2020s,2 something will have to give, most likely smaller producers that have already fended off cheap imports from Asia, particularly Pakistan, Vietnam and China, for much of the 2020s. Some periodic relief has been provided by anti-dumping duties on cement from these markets – as has been covered in depth in this column over the years - but this is simply not possible in the case of SACU members.

Speaking in unison with Philippa Rodseth was Matias Cardarelli, CEO of South Africa-based cement producer PPC. He said this week that WCC was already operating an import business into South Africa from its Mozambique operations. "The proposed acquisition (of AfriSam by WCC) raises serious concerns for South African local production, with AfriSam downsizing its production in South Africa and moving production to Mozambique, where WCC has significant spare capacity. It will become a distribution platform for Mozambique-produced cement,” he said. Cardarelli seems to suggest that WCC’s long-term play is to mothball its own capacity in South Africa, stating “This transaction creates strong incentives to abandon local manufacturing. Clearly it is cheaper to produce cement in Mozambique and sell it in South Africa with no tariffs." Perhaps he is concerned that, after a few years - and after a few of its competitors’ plants have closed - WCC will re-start its own South African cement plants, effectively cornering the market.

Given Cardarelli’s concerns, it is interesting to see that PPC itself has signed an agreement this week with Sinoma Overseas Development to collaborate on efficiency improvements and possible expansion of its capacity in Zimbabwe. The two companies will enhance operational efficiencies at PPC Zimbabwe, while also assessing the feasibility of constructing a new integrated cement plant in the country. In a statement, Cardarelli said that this is about enhancing PPC’s role in Zimbabwe.

Back to South Africa, it is important to note that, despite its current low capacity utilisation rates, South Africa will need a lot more cement in the future. A 2025 report from iMarc forecasts a 5.2% compound annual growth rate between 2025 and 2034, taking the value of the market from US$3.0bn to US$4.9bn.3 This will be driven by rapid population growth and an increasing demand for meaningful infrastructure development. What this means for volume is unclear but, given that production is currently around 12Mt/yr, the country could be looking for an extra 4-6Mt/yr of cement within the next eight years. Coincidentally this figure takes us close to 20Mt/yr, its current capacity according to the Global Cement Directory 2026.

By pretending that South Africa is an island, Manufacturing Circle appears to be shouting into the void to some extent. It was possible for manufacturers to cry foul when cement is being dumped en-masse from Asia and the government did eventually step in. However, the emerging dynamics within the SACU present an entirely new risk for cement producers that consider South Africa to be a core market. In the face of this, local producers would do well to reposition themselves: Diversify energy sources, particularly with captive renewables and alternative fuels; Increase efficiency through digital transformation and AI and; Contain costs to try and manage increasing pressure on margins.

A new front is opening in the battle for the South African cement market, one that will be considerably more lucrative in the coming decade or so. We watch with continued interest.

1. https://www.manufacturingcircle.co.za
2. https://www.globalcement.com/news/17795-cheap-imports-threaten-local-cement-industry
3. https://www.imarcgroup.com/south-africa-cement-market


US: The American Cement Association’s (ACA) Board of Directors has announced that Diane Tomb will assume the role of ACA’s President and CEO, with effect from 1 June 2026. ACA said that the board’s decision follows a ‘thoughtful and thorough search process’ undertaken by its Search Task Group.

Tomb holds over 25 years of experience shaping policy. The ACA says that she brings a combination of policy expertise, coalition-building skill and executive leadership that will serve the US cement industry well at this pivotal time. She joins the ACA from ACG Advocacy, where she worked as a partner and advised clients on trade, housing, federal investment, energy and infrastructure policy. She worked as CEO of the American Land Title Association (ALTA), where she promoted the industry’s national voice and built partnerships with AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) and the FBI to protect consumers from real estate-related fraud. Prior to ALTA, she was the president of the National Rental Home Council. Tomb also held the role of the president and CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Tomb also has federal government experience, which includes working as Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development; Director of Public Affairs at the International Trade Administration at the US Department of Commerce; and in the White House.

Monica Monales, ACA Board Chair and Region President, Ash Grove East, said “Diane brings strong leadership experience to ACA, a deep expertise in national trade associations, a long history of driving collaboration both within and across industries to create lasting value, with the proven ability to advocate effectively on Capitol Hill. She has an impressive track record of raising the profile of other respected trade associations, and I’m certain she will take ACA to the next level as well. I’m happy to welcome Diane to this role at this exciting time in the industry’s history.”

Speaking about her appointment Tomb said “America’s cement industry is a foundational pillar of our national infrastructure, our manufacturing base, and our national security. As innovation and technology reshape how we build from data centres to next-generation infrastructure, domestic cement production is central to America’s economic competitiveness. I am honoured to lead ACA at such a consequential moment and could not be more excited to get to work."

Tomb will work closely with the ACA’s outgoing President and CEO, Mike Ireland, to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition. Ireland will remain on staff at ACA until the end of the year. “ACA’s strength has always come from its people, its mission, and its commitment to serving the industry with excellence,” said Ireland. “It has been an honour to lead ACA throughout the past decade, and I am confident that under Diane’s leadership, ACA is well-positioned for continued growth and impact in the years ahead.”
Monales added “The board is sincerely grateful for Mike’s tenure leading ACA with his significant contributions to the association and the industry.”


US/Ireland: CRH has appointed Aylwyn Bryan as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 12 May 2026. Bryan has over 25 years of financial leadership experience, including the past 14 years with CRH. He most recently served as CFO of CRH’s Americas Division and previously as Head of Group Finance and Group Tax Director. CRH says that, as CFO, Bryan will continue to play a critical role in advancing CRH’s strategy and operational discipline, as well as driving long-term quality growth and value creation for CRH’s shareholders.

Aylwyn Bryan succeeds Nancy Buese, who has stepped down by mutual agreement and will remain with CRH for a three-month period to support a smooth transition. No reason was provided, although CRH said that Buese’s departure was not related to any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to its accounting practices, financial statements, financial guidance, internal controls or operations.

“We are pleased to announce Aylwyn’s appointment as CFO,” said Jim Mintern, CEO of CRH. “He has a deep understanding of CRH’s business, has strong financial expertise and a proven track record of delivery for shareholders. This experience will be invaluable to CRH as we continue to execute and evolve our strategy and drive consistent long-term growth. I would like to thank Nancy for her contributions to CRH and I wish her success. I am pleased that Nancy will work closely with Aylwyn and the finance team to ensure strong leadership and continuity during the transition period.”

“I am delighted to be appointed CFO of CRH,” said Aylwyn Bryan. “I look forward to continuing to work with the leadership team to extend CRH’s legacy of strong financial discipline and enviable track record of maximizing value for our shareholders.”


US: Eagle Materials Inc has reported a ‘record’ revenue of US$2.3bn in its 2026 Fiscal Year (FY2026), the 12 months to 31 March 2026. The revenue was 2% higher than in FY2025. However, its net earnings fell by 9% year-on-year to US$424m, while its adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was US$775m, a fall of 5%.

Commenting on the annual results, Michael Haack, Eagle Materials’ President and CEO, said "Amid geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing fiscal and trade policy disruptions, our combined businesses delivered strong financial, operational and strategic performance in FY2026. We generated record revenue of US$2.3bn, a gross profit margin of 28.3%, and operating cash flow of US$614m.”

Revenue across FY2026 in Eagle Materials’ Heavy Materials sector, which includes cement, concrete and aggregates, as well as joint venture and inter-segment cement revenues, rose by 10% to US$1.6bn. Its annual operating earnings also increased by 10%, to US$341m. Both increases were due primarily to higher cement and aggregates sales volumes, as well as new contributions from the aggregates businesses in Western Pennsylvania and Northern Kentucky that had been acquired during FY2025.

The company’s cement sales volumes rose by 8%, supported by continued growth in public construction activity and large private non-residential projects. The company upgraded its cement plant in Laramie, Wyoming during FY2026 and stated that its modernisation of Mountain Cement is now 60% complete. Commissioning of this project is expected later in 2026.


India: Oyster Renewable Energy and Dalmia Cement (Bharat) have announced a plan to set up a 31.6MW hybrid renewable energy project in Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh. Costing around US$28m, the project integrates 21.6MW of wind and 10MW of solar capacity, according to a statement. Dalmia Cement said that the project will ensure a more stable and balanced renewable energy profile for the company, with commissioning expected in 2027.

“This 31.6 MW hybrid power project will reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 70,000t/yr, directly strengthening our plant-level carbon efficiency and sustainability metrics,” said Dharmender Tuteja, Chief Financial Officer of Dalmia Cement (Bharat)’s parent company Dalmia Bharat.

The company added that the project will incorporate local workforce participation and regional supply chain engagement, to ensure that its investment in clean energy infrastructure will also generate lasting economic value for rural communities.


Zimbabwe: PPC has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Sinoma Overseas Development to collaborate on efficiency improvements and expansion of its cement and clinker production capacity in Zimbabwe. The agreement provides for the two companies to work together on initiatives to enhance operational efficiencies at PPC Zimbabwe, while also assessing the feasibility of constructing a new integrated cement plant in the country.

PPC’s CEO Matias Cardarelli said the agreement marked an important milestone in the group’s broader turnaround strategy. “Our ‘Awakening the Giant’ turnaround strategy continues to advance across the group,” said Carderelli. “This includes particularly the Zimbabwean operations, where we believe there are additional and significant opportunities to be unlocked internally, together with exciting potential for future growth.” He added that Zimbabwe remained a strategically important market for PPC due to its growth prospects and strengthening construction sector activity.

PPC said any future investment projects in Zimbabwe, including new integrated cement plants, would be assessed under the group’s capital allocation framework and would remain subject to internal and external investment approval processes.


Vietnam: An Giang Province has granted investment policy approvals and investment certificates to 19 ventures with a total investment of U$2.58bn. The event took place as part of a conference to announce An Giang's Master Plan and Investment Promotion, according to Viet Nam News.

Alongside real estate and tourism projects are industrial investments, which include a US$223m cement plant to be built by Ha Tien Kien Giang Cement, part of Tan A Dai Thanh Group, in Ha Tien Kien Giang. Thailand's Siam City Cement has separately been granted permission to develop the Hon Chong cement plant in the town of the same name. This project is reportedly valued at US$420m. Permission was also granted for the development of a US$60m solar power plant by Sao Mai Group.

Ho Van Mung, Chair of the An Giang Province’s People's Committee, said “An Giang considers the success of businesses as the success of the province. The effectiveness of investors is the driving force for local growth. An Giang is committed to supporting and creating the most favourable conditions regarding administrative procedures, land, site clearance, meeting human resource needs, and ensuring absolute security and safety of assets.”


France: Former Lafarge CEO Bruno Lafont and his deputy Christian Herrault, currently in a Paris prison following their convictions for offences relating to payments to terrorist groups by Lafarge Syria in the 2010s, have appealed for release, pending a retrial. A decision on whether they can be released will be made on 26 May 2026, according to France 24.

Due to their appeals, the detention of Lafont and Herrault now falls under the criteria for pretrial detention, which differ from those for a warrant of committal. Appearing via video conference from La Santé prison, Lafont denied that he was a flight risk, despite his considerable financial assets. His lawyer, Jacqueline Laffont, denounced what she called the ‘particularly shocking, striking and violent’ decision against her client, who reportedly went to prison ‘with nothing, without money, without a toothbrush.’
If they are released, Lafont and Herrault will be banned from speaking to each other.


Ireland: A consortium including Cairn, Ecocem, Kilsaran and University College Dublin has secured €50,000 from Construct Innovate, Ireland's national Construction Technology Centre, to validate low-carbon cement technology. The project will reportedly demonstrate Ecocem’s ACT cement technology in Ireland for the first time at full scale. Ecocem said that ACT emits up to 70% less CO₂ than conventional cement. The company is building a €50m ACT production plant in Dunkirk, France, which is due to start commercial operations in late 2026. The plant is part of a wider €220m investment programme by the company. The funding won will go towards a full-scale demonstration project and an independent technical assessment at UCD. Eceocem said that the outcome will provide Cairn with proof of ‘buildability’ and CO₂ reduction, Ecocem with the validation of its technology, and Kilsaran with a new low-carbon product stream.

John Reddy, Director of Concrete Technology Deployment at Ecocem, said “Having already been successfully deployed in markets such as the UK and France, we are delighted to bring this innovation to Ireland and to see it independently validated in a real-world setting. This milestone reinforces our confidence in ACT as a scalable solution to support a rapid and cost-effective transition to low-carbon construction.”


India: HeidelbergCement India has received regulatory approval to build a new cement blending and grinding plant in Madhya Pradesh.

The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board granted consent for the project on 17 May 2026. The plant will be located at Dongaliya village in Khandwa district and will use fly ash in its production under long-term supply agreements.


US: US-based distributor SESCO Cement has signed a supply agreement with CementCo to supply cement and construction materials for ‘mission critical’ infrastructure projects, according to a press release. The company said that the agreement reflects a strategic commercial relationship between the two companies, but did not disclose any additional terms of the agreement. SESCO said that it continues to expand its distribution network through new terminals, satellite locations and strategic partnerships.

“SESCO is focused on building long-term relationships that create value across the construction supply chain,” said Rick Van Eyk, CEO of SESCO Cement. “This agreement with CementCo aligns with our commitment to delivering dependable supply solutions and supporting continued growth in the markets we serve.”


India: Dalmia Bharat has launched Weather 365, a water-repellent cement product for the humid climate and heavy monsoons of eastern India. The company said that the product is designed to reduce water penetration, dampness and corrosion in reinforced concrete structures such as roofs and columns. It will initially be sold in Bihar and West Bengal. Dalmia Bharat Cement said it will also provide on-site technical support through its engineering and technical teams.


UK: 18 May 2026 marks the 10th Anniversary of the World Cement Association (WCA), a milestone that the WCA says reflects a decade of profound transformation for both the global cement industry and the wider world economy. Founded in London, UK, in 2016 to provide an independent international platform for cement producers and industry stakeholders, the WCA has since grown into a global network that promotes cooperation, innovation, sustainability and operational excellence across the sector.

WCA said that its first decade has coincided with one of the most turbulent and transformative periods in modern history. Over the past 10 years, the world has faced the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, energy crises, supply chain disruption, accelerating climate change, inflationary pressures, and rapid technological advancement driven by digitalisation and AI. These developments have reshaped global trade, manufacturing, construction and industrial policy, while placing increasing pressure on heavy industries to adapt and decarbonise. At the same time, the global cement industry has undergone significant structural change. Markets have shifted geographically toward Asia and emerging economies, sustainability has become central to corporate strategy and innovation in low-carbon technologies, alternative fuels, digital manufacturing, and circular economy practices have accelerated at an unprecedented pace.

As the WCA enters its second decade, the Association reaffirmed its commitment to the principle of ‘openness, inclusiveness, sharing and win-win’ and to advancing sustainable development, fostering innovation, encouraging international collaboration, and supporting the cement industry’s long-term transition toward a lower-carbon and more resilient future.


India: Adani Group subsidiary Ambuja Cements has submitted a US$60m offer to acquire the bankrupt Jaypee Cement Corporation, an affiliate of Jaypee Associates. The only other bidder, My Home Group, exited the process after submitting an offer of US$30m. However, the Ambuja offer is well below the liquidation value of US$83m, according to sources speaking to the Economic Times. Lenders are now reported to be negotiating with the Adani Group to further raise the offer. Adani Group has not yet responded to the Indian press regarding the matter.

Jaypee Cement was admitted into corporate insolvency in July 2024 following a petition by the State Bank of India. The company has an integrated cement capacity of 5Mt/yr and owns two captive power plants totalling 60MW. Operations at its 1.2Mt/yr cement plant in Shahabad, Karnataka, are currently suspended.


Georgia: A US$70m expansion of the Kaspi cement plant has begun, according to parent company Hunnewell Cement. The company said that the project will include a new clinker line and additional grinding capacity to bring total production to 2Mt/yr, from 1Mt/yr at present. The opening of the project was attended by Hunnewell Partners’ managing partner Irakli Rukhadze, Hunnewell Cement’s director David Jugashvili, director general of the Georgian Co-Investment Fund Ivane Khvedelidze and Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

The company said that the project will facilitate reduction of the country’s dependence on imports and ‘ensure uninterrupted supply to major infrastructure projects.’


South Africa: The potential creation of regional production and distribution operations from West China Cement’s (WCC) acquisition of AfriSam - coupled to its earlier acquisitions in southern Africa - could result in preferential trade access to cheap imports at the expense of local producers. This is according to Philippa Rodseth, the executive director of the Manufacturing Circle, South Africa’s association of large manufacturing companies.

Rodseth said that the deal, which was approved by the Competition Commission in December 2025, had serious potential implications for local cement producers, claiming that countries in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) enjoyed preferential trade access with respect to several goods, including cement.

Rodseth said South Africa's cement sector is structurally oversupplied and that the local industry is challenged by weak domestic demand, excess production capacity, and rising electricity and logistics costs. "The creation of a regional production and distribution platform capable of supplying cement into South Africa from neighbouring countries enjoying preferential SACU and SADC trade access has the risk of being exploited."

Matias Cardarelli, CEO of South Africa-based cement producer PPC, said that West China Cement already operates a cement import business to South Africa from its Mozambique operation. "The proposed acquisition raises serious concerns for South African local production, with AfriSam downsizing its production in South Africa and moving production to Mozambique, where West China Cement has significant spare capacity. It will become a distribution platform for Mozambique-produced cement,” said Cardarelli. “In fact, this transaction creates strong incentives to abandon local manufacturing since clearly it is cheaper to produce cement in Mozambique and sell it in South Africa with no tariffs." Cardarelli stressed that PPC would not lower its health and safety or environmental standards in South Africa in order to compete with cheaper imports, reiterating his company’s commitment to high-quality South African-made cement.

Companies in South Africa’s construction sector have long pleaded with government and regulators for tariff measures to protect the local cement sector from the dumping of imports from markets such as Pakistan. In response, International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa commissioner Ayabonga Cawe said that ordinary customs duties on cement imports are bound at zero in line with the country’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.


Russia: JSC Sibirsky Cement Holding Company (Sibcem), has reported that it produced 0.52Mt of cement in the three months to March 2026, 37.5% less than in the same period of 2025, when it made 0.83Mt/yr.

Production at the Topkinsky Cement plant fell by 47.4% to 0.19Mt, while Iskitimcement saw production fall by 23% to 0.16Mt. Krasnoyarsky Cement saw a fall of 33.3% to 84,200t, Angarsky Cement saw production halve to 55,800t and Timlyuisky Cement made just 38,300t, a 38% fall.

"As the rate of construction slows down significantly, demand for cement continues to decline,” said JSC Sibcem Holding Company Deputy CEO Alexander Legotin. “Analysts from our company estimate the volume of the Siberian cement market (as a whole) is down by 29.8% from the 2025 result." He said that only the Transbaikal Territory had shown growth in the January-March 2026 quarter, with a rise of 32.9% due to large investment projects. "The negative trends will remain until the end of the year and the Siberian market will decline by at least 15%," Legotin concluded.


Colombia: Grupo Argos said that its subsidiary Cementos Argos increased cement sales volumes by 4% year-on-year to 2.1Mt in the first quarter of 2026. Cementos Argos reported sales of US$318m and earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$71m, up by 5% year-on-year. The company said that the beginning of 2026 was marked by a ‘solid performance’ in its construction materials business, and that it continues to make progress in separating Argos Materials, focused on the US market, from Argos Latam. Among its priorities for 2026, the company maintains the goal of reducing its net debt by approximately US$1bn.

Grupo Argos reported consolidated sales of US$715m, down by 7%, while EBITDA fell by 12% to US$189m and net profit declined by 21% to US$51m. It said that its cement and real estate businesses contributed a combined increase of US$18bn in EBITDA.

President of Grupo Argos Juan Esteban Calle said “The first-quarter operating results confirm the quality of our businesses and the strength of a transformation that has left Grupo Argos with a simpler structure, a focused portfolio and assets in sectors essential for development. Our task is to accelerate execution, deepen efficiency, reduce debt, strengthen business profitability and make the portfolio's value more visible to our shareholders.”


India: In a major success for railway reforms, Indian Railways has recorded a 170% cement movement in the final four months of the 2026 Fiscal Year (FY2026) compared to the same period of FY025. The increase comes after Indian Railways introduced innovative bulk cement tanker containers and strategically-located rail terminals for improved logistics around the country.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the new system has made loading and unloading easier while also reducing material loss. Cement manufactured in one location can now move directly to consumption centres in specialised tank containers, reducing multiple handling processes and improving plant-to-market efficiency. As the containers are of a standard shape and compatible with ready-mix concrete equipment, cement reaches construction sites in ready-to-use form. This has reduced two stages of handling, leading to lower logistics costs and faster turnaround.

The minister reported that the improved cost efficiency had been particularly significant for housing demand, as it supports the goal of making housing more affordable for low and middle income families by easing pressure on construction costs across the value chain.

Such has been the success of the scheme that Indian Railways is now working on a similar reform for fly ash transportation. Reviewing the sector with senior officials, Vaishnaw urged officials to tap the vast potential in the fly ash transportation market, noting that nearly 300Mt/yr of fly ash is produced in the country, but only about 13Mt/yr is used.


US: Eco Material Technologies, a CRH company, officially opened its new pilot processing centre and the expansion of its testing laboratory at its Materials Testing and Research Facility (MTRF) in Taylorsville, Georgia, on 14 May 2026. The supplementary cementitious material (SCM) producer and supplier said that the 1500m2 facility, which includes a ball mill, classifier, rotary dryer and ES ECOsystem carbon offloading system, enables end-to-end evaluation - from beneficiation through performance testing - allowing it to rapidly and accurately assess composition and reactivity to strengthen development and durability.

“This new pilot processing centre and the expansion of our research capabilities strengthen our ability to move from innovation to implementation at scale,” said Grant Quasha, president of Eco Material Technologies. “By advancing how we process and refine diverse material streams alongside pilot production and testing of our advanced technologies, we can convert underutilised resources into reliable, high-performing cementitious products and bring those solutions to market faster. Our MTRF facility plays a central role in ensuring every material we deliver performs in the field. Combined with the additional advanced laboratory resources and expertise available at both Ash Grove and CRH, this facility is ideally positioned to lead innovation in cementitious materials and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of construction.”


Nigeria: Lafarge Africa’s shareholders have approved a plan to rename the cement maker as HBM Nigeria Plc, marking the formal shift to its new Chinese majority owner Huaxin Building Materials (HBM). The decision was approved at the company's annual general meeting on 30 April 2026. The board was authorised to amend the company's articles and take the steps needed to complete the name change.

The rebrand follows Holcim's agreement in December 2024 to sell its almost 84% stake in Lafarge Africa to HBM in a deal valued at about US$1bn. HBM is one of the world's largest cement producers and has been expanding across Africa since the start of the 2020s.


Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos reported net sales of US$1.26bn, up by 15% excluding exchange rate effects, compared to the same period of the previous year. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 25% to US$152m and the company’s cement sales volumes increased by 4% year-on-year to 8Mt in the first quarter of 2026.

Within the scope of the company’s US$1bn investment plan for Brazil in the period 2024-2028, it said that US$558m is currently being invested in projects ‘with flexibility to accelerate or reduce the pace of investments,’ depending on economic performance and market conditions. The investment plan for Brazil is reportedly on track to make 3.7Mt/yr of additional capacity available in the country by the end of 2026.

CEO Osvaldo Ayres said “We finished the first quarter with solid operational and financial performance, posting consistent growth in a period when the sector was affected by seasonal factors. We made steady progress regarding our investments focused on structural competitiveness, capacity expansion, decarbonisation and new businesses. In the quarter in which we celebrated our 90th anniversary, we remained firmly committed to the execution of our strategic mandate.”


Germany: thyssenkrupp has launched thyssenkrupp Calvion, a new company focused on industrial decarbonisation technologies including oxyfuel, direct air capture, quicklime and phosphogypsum recycling. The company said that thyssenkrupp Calvion comprises a team with expertise in industrial process technologies, large-scale plant engineering, flash calcination and CO₂ solutions.


Canada: Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a cement production process that reduces energy demand by 70% and CO₂ emissions by 98% compared to conventional production. The researchers used electricity to lower the energy requirements of the process, with the reaction taking place at 60°C. The product of the reaction was then converted into belite in a kiln at 650°C. The team also tested the process on recycled cement instead of limestone to further reduce emissions. The new method reduced emissions to 20kg/t of CO₂ compared to 500-800kg/t of CO₂ from conventional cement production. The electrochemical reactions produced hydrogen, which could be burned to provide the thermal energy for the second step of cement production. The university has filed an international patent application for the technology.

One of the researchers, Curtis Berlinguette, said “Our team was motivated to address cement production emissions at the source. We used electricity and recycled cement to make precursors that formed a type of cement called belite at lower temperatures than were previously known.”


Vietnam: Vietnam exported 3.4Mt of cement and clinker worth US$132m in April 2026, up by 15% in volume and 18% in value year-on-year. In the first four months of 2026, according to the government’s National Statistics Office. Since January 2026, exports have reached 13.4Mt, worth US$492m, up by 20% in value and 20% in volume year-on-year.


Brazil: Cement sales in Brazil increased by 2% year-on-year to 5.4Mt in April 2026, while sales in the first four months of 2026 rose by 2% year-on-year. The National Cement Industry Union (SNIC) attributed demand growth to housing and infrastructure activity, supported by the Minha Casa, Minha Vida housing programme. The economic outlook that sustains demand continues to be influenced by the ‘heated’ labour market and the Minha Casa, Minha Vida programme has led to a steady rise in real estate sales.

SNIC president Paulo Camillo Penna said “Despite the positive results in cement sales so far, the activity is already feeling the effects of the conflict in the Middle East. We had a strong impact with the readjustment in petcoke, a component that is mostly imported, which accounts for about 40% of the production cost. In the domestic market, pressures persist with the readjustments of diesel oil and road freight, a mode that represents about 90% of cement distribution in the country.”