Spain: Switzerland-based Holcim has concluded a deal to acquire Élite Cementos from Grupo Simetría and other shareholders. Élite Cementos operates a grinding plant at the Port of Castellón in Castellón de la Plana, Valencia. Holcim said that its acquisition of the business will unite the latter’s local brand recognition with its own experience and vision of sustainable growth.

The group said “With this agreement, Holcim expands its geographical presence, responding to the increasingly demanding and specialised needs of the sector. The Élite Cementos team joins the Holcim family to continue together an era of growth and transformation of the construction sector.”

China: China Shanshui Cement recorded sales of US$1.92bn during the first nine months of 2023, down by 15% year-on-year from US$2.25bn during the first nine months of 2022. Reuters has reported that the company made a US$25.7m loss during the period, compared to a profit of US$139m in the corresponding period of 2022.

US: Solidia Technologies has appointed climate consultancy 3Degrees to manage the measurement, verification and sale of carbon credits for CO₂ emissions reductions generated using Solidia Technologies products. Users of the products can deploy the credits against their Scope 3 emissions from cement and concrete, as well as to compensate for other greenhouse gas emissions.

Solidia Technologies chief executive officer Russell Hill said "By partnering with 3Degrees to issue carbon credits, Solidia is providing a mechanism for the marketplace to invest in technologies that will accelerate and enable global carbon emissions reduction.”

Mexico: GCC recorded US$1.02bn in sales during the first nine months of 2023, up by 16% year-on-year from US$880m in the first nine months of 2022. The producer’s cement volumes rose by 5.5% in Mexico, but fell by 8.1% in the US. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 31% to US$354m from US$271m.

GCC chief executive officer Enrique Escalante said “The ability of our teams to face market conditions allowed us to further strengthen our margins Throughout the third quarter of 2023, we continued to invest in the business and focus on commercial performance to offset cost inflation and increase margins, as well as strengthening our market position to build a stronger future for GCC.”