Armenia: The temporary ban on cement imports to Armenia will be lifted, according to a decision made at a government meeting on 1 October 2026. The restriction was originally imposed for six months, from 23 July 2026 to 23 January 2027. At the same time, cement imports were regulated by licensing and a state duty of US$22/t. The government said that due to logistical problems, cement imports have become more expensive, and delivery times have increased. The current restrictions have reportedly affected the balance of supply and demand and created an ‘unequal playing field’ for product sales. The government hopes that lifting the ban will help balance the market and ensure the necessary supplies.

Cyprus: Cyprus Cement saw its profit for the first half of 2026 rise from €4.6m to €5.4m, driven largely by a stronger contribution from Vassiliko Cement Works, according to the company’s latest financial results. The company reported income of €207,000 for the period, up from €193,000 in 2025. Cyprus Cement said its full-year results could fluctuate, with prevailing market uncertainties making a forecast difficult to predict.

US: Ash Grove Cement’s Seattle plant will not be allowed to burn more tyres as alternative fuel. The news comes years after the company applied for a permit from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to burn more tyres in its kiln, according to The Seattle Times. Ash Grove was required to conduct an emissions test as part of its permit to address concerns from nearby residents about emissions, according to regulatory documents. Ash Grove conducted the tests in June and August 2026, which reportedly showed that emissions of cadmium increased after more tyres were burnt, leading to the decision. Prior to the results of the emissions test, over 500 community members and 30 local businesses signed a campaign led by the advocacy group Duwamish River Community Coalition, which opposed the burning of more tyres.

In a statement, Ash Grove spokesperson Carolina Lucaroni said that the facility will comply with its permit obligations and is committed to ‘operating in full compliance with regulatory requirements.’ “We appreciate the collaborative review process and will continue exploring opportunities to advance our sustainability objectives while meeting environmental and community expectations,” Lucaroni said.

“The power of community won out in this situation where we asked for proper testing, the agency added it and as a result our lived experience … rang true,” said Mia Ayala-Marshall, a clean air program manager with the coalition.

Malaysia: Cement Industries (Sabah) is investing US$29m to establish a second production line at its Telu Sepanggar plant, in an effort to increase cement production capacity and reliability of cement supply throughout Sabah. The line is presumed to be a grinding line, due to the small investment. According to general manager Sumardi Mohd Yusuf, the line will boost the company’s production capacity by 0.55Mt is and projected to come online by the end of 2028. The project has secured approval from the company’s board of directors, and an engineering consulting firm has been appointed for the project.

Yusuf said that the Sabah’s West Coast region is currently experiencing disruptions due to delayed clinker shipments, resulting from a vessel carrying 20,000t of clinker that ran aground near Tanjung Port, South Kalimantan. Yusuf said that a replacement clinker shipment was expected to arrive during the second week of October 2026.