Saudi Arabia: Al Jouf Cement's board of directors has approved the use of its 'green' cement for projects in the new NEOM city. The product was developed in collaboration with ready-mix concrete producer Asas Al-Muhailb, with Al Jouf Cement stating that it enhances concrete performance by improving durability and longevity, and reducing water absorption and permeability. It is reportedly resistance to sulphate and chloride salts, has ‘equal or greater’ compressive strength compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), and provides benefits in heat insulation and fire resistance.

Zimbabwe: Khayah Cement has initiated corporate rescue proceedings due to the impacts of Western-imposed economic sanctions, which have created an ‘untenable’ business environment, according to The Chronicle. The company adopted a resolution on 20 December 2024 to start the rescue process under the Insolvency Act, to address its financial difficulties. The sanctions have reportedly hindered access to essential resources, affecting the company’s production capabilities. Khayah Cement said that further processes will be communicated to creditors and stakeholders.

Türkiye: Türkiye's global cement exports contracted by 6.4% from January to November 2024, totalling US$4bn, according to the Trade Ministry. However, November 2024 saw a modest increase of 0.3% in cement exports, amounting to US$346m. From November 2023 to November 2024, the total value of cement product exports reached US$4.3bn.

Türkiye's cement exports to Iran decreased by 42% year-on-year, totalling nearly US$11.7m during the same 11-month period. Despite this decline, exports in November 2024 rose slightly by 1.5% year-on-year, reaching over US$1.6m.

Zimbabwe: PPC Zimbabwe says it is speeding up the construction of two solar power plants, with a combined capacity of 30MW, to enhance power supply to its cement plants. The company plans to start work on the solar units from the first quarter of 2025 with completion scheduled for the second half of 2026, according to the Herald Zimbabwe newspaper. Albert Sigei, Managing Director, said that the company was also continuing to work with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) to improve the electricity supply.