Global Cement News

Saudi Arabia: Southern Province Cement has signed a 25-year solar energy power purchase agreement (PPA) with Tarshid Energy Solutions for its Bisha cement plant. The company said it will pay an average of US$1.07m/yr under the agreement. The solar power will reportedly be purchased at a cost lower than the company’s current electricity supply.

Construction of the solar system will begin on 1 October 2025, with operations expected to start in the third quarter of 2026. Southern Province Cement said that it will not require project funding, as it will not bear any capital or operational expenses. The company did not disclose details on the capacity of the new solar power plant.

Pakistan: Burj Clean Energy Modaraba (BCEM) and Power Cement (PCL) have signed a ‘green’ captive power transaction, a US$5.3m project to establish a 7.5MW wind captive power plant.

The deal is backed by a finance facility arranged by The Bank of Punjab, with participation from the National Bank of Pakistan and Pak Kuwait Investment Company. Power Cement said the initiative will allow it to generate clean and reliable electricity on-site, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting Pakistan’s wider clean energy goals.

Romania: Minister of Economy Radu Miruta has asked the European Commission to consider restricting cement imports from outside the EU, following complaints from local producers about unfair competition. According to Miruta, cement imports from non-EU neighbours have increased sharply, because they benefit from exemptions on environmental standards and carbon certificate costs that EU producers must bear.

The minister has reportedly met with Denis Redonnet, Deputy Director-General of DG Trade at the European Commission, and an official request for the analysis of the imposition of a limit on the quantities of cement imported from non-EU countries will be sent to Brussels. Romanian cement producers argue that cheaper imports are eroding competitiveness and threatening domestic output. The European Commission has the power to investigate and, if necessary, introduce safeguards to protect EU industry from market distortions caused by imports.

US: Total shipments of Portland and blended cement, including imports, were an estimated 9.16Mt in June 2025, a 2% decrease from 9.40Mt in June 2024, according to the latest US Geological Survey data. Shipments for the first six months of 2025 reached 47.0Mt, down by 5.3% year-on-year. The leading cement-consuming states were, in descending order, Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and Illinois, which together accounted for 38% of total shipments in June 2025.

Clinker production, excluding Puerto Rico, was estimated at 6.29Mt in June 2025, down by 2% from 6.40Mt in the same month of 2024. For the first half of 2025, clinker output reached 30.8Mt, an 8% decline from 33.6Mt in the same period of 2024. Cement and clinker imports, including those through the San Juan customs district in Puerto Rico, totalled 2.61Mt in June 2025, an 11% increase compared with June 2024. Imports for the year to June 2025 reached 12.4Mt.

Zimbabwe: Khayah Cement has secured a US$60m rescue package from East African producer Hima Cement after creditors and shareholders unanimously approved a corporate recovery plan. The agreement will allow for debt settlement, refurbishment of the Harare plant and a return to sustainable operations, according to The Sunday Mail.

Corporate rescue practitioner Balisa Mbano said the approval marked a major turning point for the company, which has struggled with debt and operational inefficiencies. “The positive is that all creditors will be paid down in a compromise amount and settled immediately. This gives the company immediate relief and the breathing space to focus on growth rather than liabilities,” he said.

In the short term, Khayah Cement will stop clinker imports and instead produce locally, securing supply reliability. The phased investment will cover both working capital and capital expenditure. The full implementation of the recovery plan is targeted within six months, with completion targeted for March 2026. Khayah Cement operates a 450,000t/yr plant in Harare, and has faced foreign currency shortages, high operational costs and equipment breakdowns in recent years, leading to its placement under corporate rescue in 2022.