Peru: The Gloria Group is set to expand its operations with a new lime plant in Lima's industrial zone, according to CE NoticiasFinancieras. This development is promoted by the group’s cement, concrete and lime subsidiary Cemento Yura. The proposed plant, will have a production capacity of over 350,000t/yr and will serve both domestic and export markets. Currently, the group operates Cal y Cementos Sur (Calcesur), which produces quicklime and hydrated lime in Juliaca with a capacity of 1Mt/yr. With lime demand rising, particularly from the mining and construction sectors, Gloria Group is also considering further plant projects.

The company is reportedly confident that the procedures for obtaining operating permits for new projects in the mining sector will be expedited in order to stimulate the demand for lime. It also did not rule out the implementation of new plants.

Saudi Arabia: Qassim Cement Company (QCC) has successfully completed the acquisition of Hail Cement Company (HCC) for US$378m. The transaction, initially announced on 25 September 2022, involved increasing QCC's capital to facilitate the acquisition of all HCC shares. The acquisition follows a binding implementation agreement reported by HCC on the Saudi Exchange.

Vietnam: The Vietnamese cement industry persists in facing difficulties, with several plants operating at only 70 - 75% capacity and accumulating stockpiles of around 5Mt, according to the Vietnam Investment Review. The total production capacity is over 120Mt/yr, yet four new production lines with a combined 11Mt capacity remain inactive. At a recent conference, strategies were proposed to alleviate industry pressures, including fiscal policy adjustments and abolishing the current clinker export tariff, which currently sits at 10%. It was revealed that many cement producers are struggling due to borrowing, soaring production costs and slow consumption.

Chair of the Vietnam Cement Association Nguyen Quang Cung said "Never before has the cement industry been at such a critical stage. If the current predicament drags on, the possibility of domestic ownership transferring to foreign investors might occur, posing the threat of the cement sector falling into the hands of foreign businesses, thereby reducing the country's ability to deal with pricing and market moderation in the long term."

Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement saw a notable decrease in net profit to US$4.5m in 2023, down from US$17.9m in 2022. The company also reported a decrease in revenue to US$81.8m from US$86.7m in 2022, largely due to competitive pressures and logistical challenges, that affected exports. Despite these hurdles, domestic sales grew by 4%, though exports nearly ceased, reflecting the new capacities in neighbouring Uzbekistan which have driven down prices and diminished profits from exports.

The country's cement market contracted slightly to 11.5Mt in 2023, with per capita consumption settling at 575kg. The local cement industry has balanced demand and production, but seasonal fluctuations continue to affect the market, particularly in northern regions. Production costs increased by US$8m and the company has responded by increasing capacity by 0.1Mt with a US$3.1m capital expenditure aimed to enhance efficiency at its facilities. Looking ahead to 2024, an additional US$2.4m is earmarked for further improvements.