Global Cement News

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement Company has exported 3000t of cement to Curaçao, following the completion of its US$41.8m debottlenecking project at the Rockfort plant in June 2025. The upgrade expanded production capacity, allowing the company to sustain ‘record output’ of cement and clinker, according to Our Today news.

Managing director Jorge Martinez said the shipment demonstrated the company’s ability to serve both domestic and regional markets. “What you are witnessing is a company that not only fully resources the local market but also has the strengthened capacity to export. Our first commitment is to Jamaica, and now that we can consistently meet domestic demand, we are complementing the local market with exports, leveraging the surplus from our expanded capacity,” he said.

The cargo was loaded onto the MV Suzie Q on 22 September 2025. Curaçao’s construction sector is reportedly growing on the back of tourism-led economic activity, with demand rising for real estate, roads, public spaces and utilities. Caribbean Cement said that it plans to expand its export presence across the Caribbean Basin.

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is updating its regulatory framework for cement to ensure safer and more durable materials for infrastructure.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said “Given our country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, we must ensure that all construction materials, including cement, meet the highest quality and safety standards. This ensures the safety of Filipinos, starting from the foundational materials of our homes and buildings.”

The DTI is revising Department Administrative Order 17-06:2017, with proposed rules calling for post-shipment inspection and full product testing of cement. Public and stakeholder comments on the draft circular will be accepted until 4 November 2025. As of September 2025, the DTI reported 179 active cement manufacturer licensees, comprising 95 for Portland cement, 81 for blended hydraulic cement and three for masonry cement. All are compliant with Philippine National Standards.

Croatia: Holcim has inaugurated the Kodeco investment at its Koromačno cement plant, with commissioning still ongoing, according to a Linkedin post by Region Head Central and East Europe, Simon Kronenberg. The project includes the installation of a new calciner, a chlorine bypass, and storage and transport systems for solid recovered fuel (SRF). Holcim said the investment marks a key step in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of its operations in Croatia.

Cameroon: The Central Africa Cement (CAC) plant in Koukoue, Edéa district, was inaugurated on 19 September 2025, in a ceremony chaired by Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development Fuh Calixtus. The event was also attended by the Minister of Transport and local leaders. The US$21m project has a production capacity of 1Mt/yr, and will use local resources such as limestone and pozzolan, while importing clinker. Cement output will serve both domestic demand and export markets, according to Afrik Info.

The new facility will reportedly create 121 direct jobs and boost local supply with affordable cement. It also reinforces Cameroon’s position as a cement hub in Central Africa and aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which aim to increase competitiveness in international trade.

Nigeria/Botswana: Nigeria-based producer Dangote Cement has announced plans to expand into Botswana with a new plant, which would increase its presence on the continent to 12 countries. The plan was disclosed by Emmanuel Ikazoboh, newly appointed chair of Dangote Cement, during a presentation at the Nigerian Exchange Group.

“We are fully aware of the challenges in South Africa, which is why we’re opening a plant in Botswana, geographically close to the market,” Ikazoboh said. “South Africa currently imports cement, and while we have urged the government to curb imports, progress has been slow.”

According to the company, the Botswana blending plant will help boost production and improve profitability, with Dangote Cement targeting 66.4Mt/yr across all of its operations by 2030, a 28% increase from its current capacity of 52Mt/yr.