Global Cement News

India: Police have arrested the owner of a factory near Gaurichak in Bihar manufacturing counterfeit cement. Over 5000 bags of cement were seized, according to the Telegraph of India newspaper. Cement bags falsely branded as Birla Gold, Lafarge and other companies were found at the site. Packaging machines were also impounded. Police said the unit was collecting expired bags of cement and reusing them. The investigation will now move on to finding contractors who have been selling the fake products.

Senegal: Trade minister Alioune Sarr says that the government will investigate a rise in the price of cement. He said that a committee has been set up to review the prices of essential commodoties including cement, according to PressAfrik. The decision follows a rise in the price of cement at the end of May 2018.

Italy: Colacem has purchased the Maddaloni cement plant from Italcementi. The transaction was part of the measures requried by the Italian Competition Authority when Italcementi acquired Cementir.

Ireland: CRH plans to reorganise its business structure into three core divisions in January 2019. Its European Heavyside and Asia operations, including cement production, will form into Europe Materials. Its Europe Lightside, Europe Distribution and Americas Products operations will form into Building Products. Its Americas Materials operations will remain as it is. The new divisions are expected to generate approximately 30%, 30% and 40% respectively of earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).

CRH is also in the final stages of buying Ash Grove Cement in the US. The US$3.5bn deal will add eight cement plants across eight US states, combined with ready mix concrete, aggregates and associated logistics assets across the US Midwest to CRH’s portfolio. It will also increase the scope of its Americas Materials division. The deal had earlier been expected to close in May 2018.

Cambodia: The Battambang Conch Cement Company has officially inaugurated its US$230m plant in Rattanak district, Battambang province. The unit has a production capacity of 5000t/day, according to the Phnom Penh Post newspaper. The company intends to supply cement to Pursat, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces. The plant is a joint venture between China’s Conch International Holdings and local cement firm Battambang KT Cement.

Following the opening of the new unit Cambodia has a cement production capacity of 7Mt/yr from four plants. The country has six licenced cement plants including Kampot Cement, Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting, Mong Insee Cement Corporation, Thai Boon Rong Cement, and Southern Cement Cambodia. Thai Boon Rong Cement, and Southern Cement Cambodia are projects that are currently being built.