Mexico: Cemex has reported earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$1bn, representing an increase of 24% year-on-year. It also recorded sales of US$4.6bn in the second quarter of 2026, up by 12%. It said that the successful execution of its Project Cutting Edge was a key driver in its performance, with 80% of the original US$400m savings target already achieved as of 30 June 2026. The majority of the new savings are expected to be realised in 2027.

It said that three of four regions had delivered growth, with Mexico outperforming expectations, driven by cost efficiencies and improving demand. 'Challenging' weather conditions prevailed in the US, but Cemex said that demand remained 'broadly stable.' In the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, EBITDA increased by 9%. In South and Central America and the Caribbean, it grew by 34%.  

Bolivia: A shortage of diesel is affecting cement sales in Sucre. Local producer Fábrica Nacional de Cemento SA (FANCESA) said that it is unable to ship 38% of its product across the country, according to Correo del Sur.

General manager of FANCESA Jorge Camargo told local press “This problem is making it difficult for us to meet our customers’ needs. Transportation companies can’t get diesel to transport our products to the different points of sale.”

Camargo said that the company has a schedule of shipping between 2700-3000t/day, or around 60,000 bags per day of cement. He said that the company has purchased diesel from private suppliers in Santa Cruz to avoid the risk of a sudden kiln shutdown. The company has only just recovered from 53 days of road blockades in June 2026, when it had to shut down its kilns. Two kilns are currently operational.

FANCESA reportedly has an agreement with state-owned oil company Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos to guarantee the sale of between 100,000-120,000 litres of diesel per month, but it is now buying between 30,000-33,000 litres per month from the private importer due to the shortage, which is more expensive. A meeting will be requested with the government to ask for ‘real solutions’ to the problem.

Afghanistan: Deputy governor Sheikh Enamullah Salahuddin has met with Tariq Mahmood, the CEO of Sako Afghan, and the contractor overseeing the Altamur cement mine, alongside officials from the Provincial Directorate of Mines and Petroleum, to review the project's advancement. Representatives from Sako Afghan confirmed that the exploration phase and preliminary development, amounting to US$455,000, have been completed. They also said that construction will begin within the coming days.

The company reported that the plant will be ready to commence full-scale production in 18 months. Situated in the Altamur district of central Logar Province, the plant will have a production capacity of ~0.8Mt/yr.

Kyrgyzstan: Cement plants in the Chui region produced 1Mt of cement during the first five months of 2026. This is 1.5 times more than the 0.68Mt produced in the same period of 2025, according to the National Statistical Committee. For the January-May 2026 period, cement plants operating in the Chui region accounted for 53% of Kyrgyzstan's total national cement output.