Switzerland/Germany: Cement producer Holcim has announced that it has completed it €1.85bn acquisition of German building materials maker Xella, expanding its building solutions portfolio. Based in Duisburg, Xella is present in 22 European markets and is expected to generate net sales of €1bn in 2026. The transaction should result in synergies of €60m realised in the third year.

Via the deal, Holcim now obtains brands for both the new-build and the energy-efficient repair and refurbishment market. These include prefabricated Ytong and Hebel autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) modular systems, Silka calcium silicate elements, and Multipor mineral insulation.

Iran: Shahroud Cement has obtained an operating licence for a 4.8MW segment of its 10MW solar plant from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organisation. The company said that, when the entire plant is commissioned, 4.5MW is to be delivered to the national grid, with 2.5MW connected to the grid since 16 June 2026. A further 3MW is connected to the plant.

Shahroud Cement said it planned to build an additional 3MW solar unit alongside the 10MW plant to help cover potential shortfalls in grid delivery, and would report further once that is implemented and operational.

Armenia: The government is planning a further temporary restriction on cement imports. This follows previous measures that have helped to somewhat ease competitive conditions in the domestic market for cement produced in Armenia. However, in 2025, cement production in the country amounted to just 0.94Mt, a decrease of 10.4% compared to 2024. According to the Statistical Committee, cement imports came to 0.75Mt of cement for the same year, a 29.2% increase compared to 2024.

Spain: Cement consumption in Spain fell by 0.3% year-on-year to 1.47Mt in May 2026, according to data from cement employers' association Oficemen. Consumption in the first five months of 2026 rose by 7% year-on-year to 6.79Mt. Data for the period from June 2025 to May 2026 shows that consumption rose by 12% to 17.1Mt. Exports fell by 18% year-on-year in May 2026 to 344,000t. In the first five months of 2026, exports dropped by 17% to 1.58Mt. Between June 2025 and May 2026, exports declined by 14% to 4.18Mt.