Australia: First Graphene (FGR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Sixth Element (Changzhou) Material Technology for the latter company to be its key distributor in China for First Graphene's PureGRAPH CEM additive product. The agreement allows exclusivity for Sixth Element, subject to annual purchase targets being achieved, and will target the cement and concrete sector.

The MOU also includes provisions upon sale of 200t of FGR's product to negotiate a joint venture or licencing agreement to manufacture the additive at a dedicated manufacturing site in China. Once 500t of PureGRAPH CEM is sold in China, a joint venture or licencing agreement will commence, enabling the product line manufactured in China to be distributed locally. There is also opportunity expand this arrangement to authorise Sixth Element to sell the additive globally.

First Graphene Managing Director and CEO, Michael Bell, said "The MOU with Sixth Element represents the largest commercial growth opportunity in FGR's global strategy, as we prepare for entry to the world's biggest cement and concrete industry in the world.”

Colombia: The Financial Superintendence of Colombia has authorised a proposed merger between Cementos Argos and Concretos Argos. The company explained that both entities carry out complementary activities and that the integration aims to move toward a ‘simpler, more agile, and more efficient’ corporate structure without disrupting operational continuity. Cementos Argos will act as the absorbing company in the transaction, while Concretos Argos will be the absorbed entity, given that the former is the sole shareholder of the latter.

The process had already been approved by the competent bodies of both companies on 17 March 2026. It received the backing of the General Assembly of Ordinary Bondholders for Cementos Argos’ outstanding issuances on 15 April 2026, prior to obtaining final authorisation from the Financial Superintendence on 30 June 2026.

Australia: A train carrying cement has derailed close to Boral’s New Berrima cement plant on 4 July 2026. Multiple train cars came off the rails in the incident, according to the Illawarra Mercury newspaper. A spokesperson for Boral confirmed the accident took place on a service operated by the company's rail service partner with its equipment. No injuries have been reported and the train line was reopened on 5 July 2026.

Zimbabwe: South Africa-based PPC’s sale of a property in Arlington, near Harare, has fallen through after the prospective buyer failed to pay $30m by the agreed deadline of 30 June 2026. This frustrates the producer’s plans to divest its non-core assets. PPC was attempting to sell the properly to Transvaal Africa through its 88% subsidiary PPC Zimbabwe.

The deal previously showed ‘signs of strain’ in February 2026, when PPC told shareholders it had agreed with the buyer to push back the deadline to the end of June 2026 as ‘administrative matters had delayed the meeting of certain milestones.’

PPC Zimbabwe regained ownership of the Arlington property in December 2024, following its seizure by the Zimbabwean government in 2010.