Global Cement News

India: UltraTech Cement’s consolidated net sales rose by 27% year-on-year to US$1.3bn in the quarter that ended on 30 June 2018 from US$1.01bn in the same period in 2017. However, its profit after tax dropped by 30% to US$92m from US$131m.

The cement producer also said that it agreed to buy the cement assets of Century Textiles & Industries in the reported quarter and that it commissioned a 1.75Mt/yr grinding unit at its Manawar plant in Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh.

Peru: Cement production in Peru rose by 1.7% year-on-year to 4.8Mt in the first half of 2018 from 4.7Mt in the same period in 2016. Local despatches grew by 2% to 4.6Mt from 4.5Mt, according to data from Asociación de Productores de Cemento (Asocem). Clinker exports increased nearly six times to 0.6Mt from 0.1Mt.

Czech Republic: The Czech Cement Association reports that production grew by 2.5% year-on-year to 4Mt in 2017. Cement consumption grew by 3.5% to 3.95Mt in the same period, according to the Czech News Agency. Exports fell by 6.5% to 0.55Mt. The majority of this output went to Slovakia, a minority to Germany and the remainder to Poland and Austria. Imports increased by 19.2% to 0.55Mt, mostly coming from Slovakia and Poland.

Association members include Ceskomoravsky Cement, Cement Hranice na Morave, Cemex and Lafarge Cement. Each of these companies operates integrated plants locally.

Spain: Cementos Tudela Veguín has bid for a concession at the El Musel section of the Port of Gijón. The cement producer plans to build a dedicated terminal at the site, according to La Nueva España newspaper. Cementos Tudela Veguín has used the northern extension of the port since 2012. It processed 1.04Mt of cement and clinker at the site in 2017.

US: Air Products is preparing to build a new global headquarters in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The new site will be situation around 2km from its existing location in Allentown. Ground breaking is expected in March 2019 with occupancy scheduled for the summer of 2021. The new location will be the base for approximately 2000 Air Products employees with capacity for growth.

The decision to change headquarters has been taken to allow the company to modernise its facilities. The new headquarters site will include new administration offices, a research and development (R&D) facility, and an enclosed parking structure for employees.

Air Products operates an industrial gases business providing atmospheric and process gases and related equipment to manufacturing markets, including the cement and lime industries as well as refining and petrochemical, metals, electronics, and food and beverage sectors. Air Products is also a supplier of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment.