Global Cement News

India: Shree Cement launched commercial cement production at its new Purulia grinding plant. Dion News Service has reported that that facility, in Digha, West Bengal, has a capacity of 3Mt/yr.

The producer said that its entry into the West Bengal market will help to serve growing demand in the state.

World: Bulgaria-based consultancy firm OneStone Consulting has joined the World Cement Association (WCA) as an associate member. OneStone Consulting provides comprehensive market reporting, strategic advisory and sustainability consulting services for the cement and building material industries.

OneStone Consulting managing director Joe Harder said “We’re very pleased to be joining WCA and look forward to sharing our extensive experience and research methodologies in order to help enhance technical and economical efficiency within organisations, as well as learning from other industry stakeholders across WCA’s network."

WCA chief executive officer Ian Riley said “OneStone Consulting’s wide ranging expertise will be valuable to WCA’s members as they meet the challenges brought about by the multiple global crises. OneStone’s expertise in market intelligence, strategic consulting and sustainability aligns with WCA’s mission to drive sustainable development in the cement industry."

US: The United States Geological Survey has reported that the US consumed 40.5Mt-worth of cement shipments in the first five months of 2023. This corresponds to a 4.3% year-on-year fall from five-month 2022 volumes of 41.5Mt. Blended cement, primarily Type IL Portland limestone cement (PLC), accounted for 37% of shipments, compared to 16% in the corresponding period of 2022. Total demand rose by 4.3% year-on-year and by 19% month-on-month to 10.2Mt in May 2023. Imports of cement and clinker totalled 10.5Mt. The leading source of imported cement and clinker were Türkiye, which supplied 3.34Mt (32%), Canada, which supplied 1.58Mt (15%), and Vietnam, which supplied 1.3Mt (13%).

US production of clinker dropped by 2.1% to 29.5Mt in the first five months of 2023, from 30.1Mt a year earlier.

Vietnam: The General Statistics Office (GSO) recorded national cement production volumes of 69.9Mt during the first seven months of 2023. This corresponds to a decline of 5.8% from seven-month 2022 levels. Việt Nam News has reported that July production was 10Mt, down by 2.9% year-on-year.

Throughout 2022, Vietnam produced 116Mt of cement, and increased its production volumes by 5.8% year-on-year.

France: Vicat's consolidated sales were Euro1.91bn in the first half of 2023, up by 9% year-on-year from Euro1.76bn in the first half of 2022. The group's earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 17% to Euro314m from Euro269m. Vicat said that it recorded generally 'resilient' sales volumes and price rises across most of its markets. Volumes dropped in France and Switzerland. During the half, Vicat's specific CO₂ emissions per tonne of cement fell by 3.6% year-on-year to 571kg/t from 591kg/t.

Chair and chief executive officer Guy Sidos said "The group has not yet returned to its pre-crisis margins rates. I’d like to thank all our teams for their unwavering commitment enabling us to reach our industrial, financial and climate targets." He added that Vicat is on track to achieve its CO₂ emission target of 497kg/t of cement by 2030.

Regarding its outlook for the current 2023 full year, Vicat said "The group is targeting further significant sales growth, with its markets overall expected to display resilience and reflect the full benefit of the price hikes in selling prices implemented in 2022 and the fresh increases introduced in 2023." It added "The performance in 2023 will reap the benefit of the full impact of the new kiln at the Ragland plant in the US, the elimination of the non-recurring costs incurred in 2022 and the stabilisation in energy costs."