Vietnam: Vietnam produced 167Mt of cement in the first 11 months of 2024, up by 3% year-on-year, according to the latest data from the General Statistics Office (GSO). In November 2024, the country’s cement output increased by 12% year-on-year to 17.2Mt, according to the GSO. In 2023, Vietnam produced 120.1Mt of cement, down by 5% year-on-year.

US/Switzerland: Holcim has made progress on the capital market separation of its North American business, planning a 100% spin-off to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. An additional listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange is planned for European investors. The spin-off is subject to shareholder approval at the Holcim Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2025 and expects to occur by the end of the first half of 2025, subject to customary approvals.

Mozambique: The closure of the largest cement plant in Sofala has led to an acute cement shortage in Beira, according to local news reports. Local retailers are now relying on two plants in Dondo, 30km from Beira, but these reportedly cannot meet demand, leading to a rise in prices by some sellers. The government’s Industry and Commerce sector has denied the existence of a ‘cement crisis’.

Australia: Boral has launched upgraded ‘carbon-reducing’ technology at its Berrima Cement Works in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales (NSW). The upgraded facility features a new chlorine bypass, which reduces the build-up of chlorides and other alternative fuel byproducts. This will reportedly enable alternative fuel usage to reach 60% over the next three years at the site, doubling its current substitution rate of 30%.