Credit: Mauro Vombe

Mozambique: Cimentos de Moçambique, now owned by Huaxin Cement, has tripled the production capacity of its integrated cement plant in Nacala in the northern province of Nampula, from 0.4Mt/yr to 1.2Mt/yr, in an investment valued at US$110m. The plant supplies cement to the country’s entire northern region, in addition to exporting cement to Comoros and Madagascar, according to The Club of Mozambique news.

Fernando Barreto, executive director of Cimentos de Moçambique, said “With the new kiln and the investment made, we have begun producing clinker. It is a historic milestone for the region, as we are guaranteeing supply for the entire northern zone and boosting the country’s production capacity.” He said that the company had stopped importing 0.3Mt/yr of clinker.

The plant will also supply cement to the liquefied natural gas project in Afungi, Cabo Delgado province. Barreto added “In addition to the plant, we built a jetty that will allow cement to be transported directly to the gas project. We estimate consumption of close to 0.12Mt in the coming year during the initial phase, ensuring local content for one of the largest ongoing investments in the country. Two years ago, we sometimes experienced cement shortages in the north. By ending clinker imports and increasing production efficiency, we have managed to lower production costs, a change that is already reflected in the price of cement.”

US: Heidelberg Materials’ Mitchell plant in Indiana, US, has reached 11 years without a lost-time injury, according to a Linkedin post by plant manager Tracy Crowther. The plant reached the milestone on 25 July 2026. During this time, it operated three kilns, built and started production on a new line, and worked through construction issues. Crowther also said that the last 18 months had gone without a reportable incident.

India: Adani Group subsidiary Ambuja Cement reported a consolidated net profit of US$59m for the first quarter of the 2027 financial year, down by 34% year-on-year from US$90m in the previous corresponding period. Revenue from operations declined by 8% year-on-year to US$989m from US$1.07bn in the first quarter of the 2026 financial year, according to the company. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined by 19% year-on-year to US$165m from US$204m in the previous corresponding quarter.

The company attributed the decline to disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East and higher raw material costs. It reported quarterly sales volumes of 17.1Mt, while its clinker factor improved by 2.1 percentage points to 63.7%. It forecasted that cement demand would remain soft at 5% for the remainder of the financial year, but its long-term outlook remains constructive.

Papua New Guinea: Pacific Lime and Cement (PLC) has secured a US$16.3m equity investment from the government for its flagship Central Lime project. The government has therefore acquired a 13% stake in the project through Kumul Mineral Holdings (KHML). The government also retains an option to acquire an additional 5% of Central Lime for about US$6.8m, exercisable within 180 days of the start of operations. Central Lime is targeting its first quicklime production in the first quarter of 2027. The company is set to become the country’s first integrated lime and cement manufacturing operation.

"The PNG government's decision to invest directly in the Central Lime project is a landmark milestone that further strengthens the sovereign and institutional foundations of what we are building,” said PLC managing director Paul Mulder. "This capital commitment reflects over a decade of collaboration between PLC, the Papua New Guinean (PNG) government and project-area landowners, and demonstrates the depth of alignment between the company and the state in delivering PNG's first integrated lime and cement manufacturing industry.”

KMHL managing director Sarimu Kanu said “This development enables PNG to reduce reliance on imported quicklime from distant markets such as the Middle East and Asia and instead source high-quality, cost-competitive product that is locally manufactured by Papua New Guineans.”

Central Lime represents the first stage, with Central Cement planned as a separate second-stage investment. KMHL has the right to acquire up to a 30% interest in Central Cement, ahead of a final investment decision targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. Construction works at Central Lime will taper off as Central Cement activities ramp up in the first half of 2027.