Global Cement News

Armenia: The Committee on Economic Affairs of the National Assembly has approved a fourfold increase on cement import duty, in a bid to protect domestic producers from cheaper Iranian imports, according to Arminfo News. Cement production in Iran is reportedly cheaper due to state subsidies and low energy prices, and is exported in large volumes to neighbouring countries, including Armenia. The new duty intends to create equal competition in the sector. According to the State Revenue Committee, cement imports to Armenia rose by 72% year-on-year to 436,000t in 2024.

Myanmar: An Indian Navy vessel, the UMS Myitkyina, arrived at Thilawa (MITT) port on 23 May 2025, carrying 225t of cement donated by the Indian government to support reconstruction efforts after the March 2025 earthquake, according to the Global Light of Myanmar newspaper. A handover ceremony for the 4500 50kg bags of cement took place later that afternoon. The Yangon Region government supervised the transfer of the cement onto cargo trucks for distribution to affected areas.

UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA), which represents UK- based producers of cement and lime, has welcomed the UK government’s proposal to link the UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS). The link was announced as part of a deal to streamline relations between the EU and UK. The MPA has been calling for a link between the UK and EU ETS since they were separated following the UK’s departure from the EU in 2020 and welcomed the announcement as part of the policy framework needed to support the sector. It said that linking the two schemes will give UK cement and lime producers access to a larger, more liquid carbon market, bringing the kind of stability that the sector needs to promote investment confidence.

However, the MPA has also repeated its calls for the government to tackle the high electricity costs that exacerbate the issues facing the industry, undermining its international competitiveness and making it vulnerable to imports. It has also reiterated the importance of delivering a watertight UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), levelling the carbon costs with imports from outside the EU and preventing decarbonisation by deindustrialisation.

EU: The European Parliament has approved proposed changes to the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) as part of efforts to reduce the administrative burden for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) and occasional importers. Members of the parliament adopted the text by 564 votes in favour, 20 against and with 12 abstentions.

While the changes do not affect large scale importers, including those of cement, they remove the need to pay for CBAM allowances for less than 50t of imports. This will exempt 90% of importers - mainly SMEs and individuals - that import only small quantities of CBAM-effected goods. However, the CBAM’s environmental objectives will reportedly remain achievable, as 99% of total CO2 emissions from imports of cement, iron, steel, aluminium and fertilisers would still be covered.

US: Microsoft has agreed to buy 0.62Mt of cement from Sublime Systems over the next 6 - 9 years. The low-carbon cement producer will supply its product from its first commercial factory in Holyoke, Massachusetts and its subsequent full-scale production factory. The purchase marks the first binding commitment for Sublime's full-scale plant, which it plans to bring online in 2030, two years after its plans to open its first commercial facility in Holyoke. The Holyoke plant is due to break ground in mid 2025.

The Somerville-based startup structured the deal using a ‘book and claim’ system that allows Microsoft to purchase cement and its environmental attributes separately when needed. The company says this approach is the first-of-its-kind in the cement industry, adapting a model previously used in renewable energy and sustainable aviation fuel markets. Under the agreement, Microsoft commits to using the environmental value of Sublime's cement in all cases, even when the physical material can't be deployed in nearby Microsoft construction projects.

“Sublime’s mission is to have a swift and massive impact measured in the amount of cement we produce and sell. So we are super-focused on increasing production,” said Leah Ellis, CEO of Sublime Systems. “We can't stop with Microsoft. We want to make sure we're supplying our material to many different types of infrastructure, so we'll also be pursuing various contracts and purchase agreements with folks who represent different types of the built environment.”