Global Cement News

Armenia: The government will extend restrictions on cement and clinker imports from Iran and ‘other countries’ for another six months, from 21 July 2025 to 21 January 2026. The measure aims to support local producers, who reportedly face falling competitiveness and reduced production volumes, according to local press.

Armenian cement output declined by 7% year-on-year to 1.05Mt in 2024, despite a domestic capacity of 2.5Mt/yr and market demand of around 1.4–1.5Mt/yr. Imports from Iran rose by 72% year-on-year to 436,000t in 2024, following a 3.5-fold increase in 2023.

The Ministry of Economy said the restrictions ensure sufficient market supply while maintaining fair competition between domestic manufacturers and importers.

Greece: Titan Group has been named by Time Magazine as one of the most sustainable companies in the world, rising 158 positions to 150th in the annual list of 500 companies. Titan Group said that it is the highest-ranked building materials company and one of only a handful on the list. Time Magazine and data firm Statista assessed companies based on external ratings, commitments and various environmental and social Key performance indicators (KPIs) disclosed in externally-assured reports.

Leonidas Canellopoulos, Chief Innovation and Sustainability Officer at Titan Group, said "Being named one of the world’s most sustainable companies by Time for the second year in a row is a powerful endorsement of our growth strategy in action. Sustainability is woven into every decision we make – from bold innovation in new products and decarbonised processes to transparent execution.”

Pakistan: Lebanese investment company Pharaoh Investment Group Ltd (PIGL) is considering the possibility of selling a stake in its subsidiary Attock Cement Pakistan Ltd (ACPL) amid a revaluation of its assets in the cement sector. PIGL, which is the majority shareholder of ACPL with an 84% stake, has received proposals from investors to acquire the entire stake, subject to regulatory approval.

The list of applicants includes joint proposals from the Fauji Foundation and Kotaku Power Company, as well as from Cherat Cement and Shirazi Investments. Separate applications were sent by Alpha Cement and Bestway Cement. ACPL holds a leading position in the cement market in Southern Pakistan, with a 24% market share, thanks to its 4.3Mt/yr capacity.

Zambia: President Hakainde Hichilema has urged investors to capitalise on Zambia's favourable business environment, citing a recent upgrade of Chilanga Cement's plant in Ndola as proof of government support. Speaking via Minister of Mines Paul Kabuswe during the plant’s commissioning, the President highlighted that its daily cement capacity tripled from 500t/day to 1500t/day. The US$25m upgrade, its first since 1969, also included a new lime production line with an annual capacity of 100,000t/yr.

Italy: France-headquartered nuclear reactor developer Newcleo has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Federbeton, the Italian cement association, to explore the company's technologies and potential synergies with the cement industry.

Newcleo says the lead-cooled advanced modular reactors (AMRs) that it is developing will offer carbon-free energy and could play a strategic role in helping heavy industries to achieve carbon neutrality. Through the MoU, Newcleo and Federbeton will also explore opportunities for research and development in the field of high-performance construction materials, designed to meet the requirements of next-generation nuclear technologies.

"The agreement between Newcleo and Federbeton confirms the construction materials industry's strong commitment to achieving climate neutrality," the partners said in a joint statement. "This collaboration addresses the dual challenge of decarbonisation and energy efficiency."
The agreement with Federbeton follows other partnerships that Newcleo has signed with key players in hard-to-abate sectors, including Danieli (for green steel production), Maire (for green chemical plants), Fincantieri (for naval propulsion), and Saipem (for offshore nuclear platforms).