Saudi Arabia: Al Jouf Cement has entered an agreement with Italy-based Webuild to supply cement worth US$27.7m for various projects in the upcoming NEOM city. The contract spans 41 months from signing, with potential for increased quantities. Al Jouf Cement anticipates a profitable impact on its financial statements from the third quarter of 2024 until the contract's conclusion.

Rwanda: Cimerwa has completed its acquisition of Prime Cement. Cimerwa stated that the purchase of Prime Cement’s assets was an ‘off-market transaction’, denoting a private deal directly with the company. The company will acquire all operational assets of Prime cement, while the government retains any outstanding liabilities.

A statement from Cimerwa reads "Under this agreement, Cimerwa will acquire all assets of Prime Cement, thereby committing to ensuring cement sovereignty in Rwanda."

Spain: Cement consumption in Andalucía decreased by 7% in the first half of 2024 to 1.54Mt. In June 2024, consumption dropped 7.6% to 271,415t. This decline extends to exports of clinker and cement, which fell by 24% to 247,805t, as reported by the Andalusian Cement Manufacturers’ Association (AFCA).

Carmen Díaz, president of AFCA, said "The first half figures are negative due to a slowdown in planned infrastructure execution. Considering the daily consumption in June, having two fewer business days this year than in 2023, the monthly figure would be positive, indicating potential recovery in the construction sector in the second half of 2024."

Gabon: President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon invited Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Industries, to invest in Gabon's cement sector during a visit to the country. Discussions centred on potential cement plant investments to bolster Gabon's infrastructure development. President Nguema noted that the collabora­tion with Dangote Industries would bring significant ben­efits, including job creation, technology transfer and en­hanced industrial capacity. This potential investment aims to strengthen economic ties between Nigeria and Gabon and enhance Gabon's industrial capacity, with further discussions planned in the coming months to finalise the investment strategy.

Dangote said "We are excited about the opportunity to invest in Gabon. Our goal is to contribute to the country’s economic diversification and industrialisation efforts. By leveraging our expertise in cement production, we aim to support Gabon’s infrastructure sector."