Japan: Taiheiyo Cement’s revenue grew by 6% year-on-year to US$6.26bn in the nine months to 31 December 2018 from US$5.90bn in the same period in 2017. Its net profit rose by 5% to US$308m from US$294m. The cement producer said that domestic sales had been supported by railway infrastructure projects as well as domestic housing.

India: India Cement has blamed poor quarterly results on ‘severe’ competition in the south of the country and bad weather. For the year to date, its revenue grew by 3% year-on-year to US$576m in the nine months to 31 December 2018 from US$561m in the same period in 2017. Its profit more than halved to US$3.62m from US$9.24m.

India: JSW Cement has completed a 1.2Mt/yr upgrade to its Dolvi plant in Maharashtra. The unit now has a cement production capacity of 2.2Mt/yr, according to the Hindu newspaper. The plant produces Portland Slag Cement (PSC) and Concreel HD, a high early strength cement product. The company is aiming to increase its production capacity to 20Mt/yr with a number of on-going expansion projects.

Indonesia: Semen Indonesia has renamed Holcim Indonesia as Solusi Bangun following its takeover. Semen Indonesia’s corporate secretary Agung Wiharto said that the acquisition was aimed at increasing the country's cement plant network and strengthening its supply chain, according to the Jakarta Post newspaper. He added that the purchase would also benefit the company’s ready-mix concrete business. Lowered distribution and raw material costs are also anticipated.