Finland: VTT Technical Research Centre subsidiary Carbonaide has concluded its seed funding round, having raised funds worth Euro1.8m. Lakan Betoni, which produces precast and ready-mix concrete, led the funding, along with utilities provider Vantaa Energy. Carbonaide will use the funds to build an industrial pilot plant for its carbon neutral precast concrete product at an existing precast concrete plant in Hollola. The plant will bind captured CO₂ in the product at atmospheric pressure. The process generates 50% lower CO₂ emissions than precast concrete production using ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Suitable raw materials include ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), green liquor dregs and bio-ash. In trial production, the use of GGBFS gave Carbonaide's concrete a negative carbon footprint of -60kg/m³.

Other sources of loans and in-kind contributions included Finnish state innovation fund Business Finland.

Argentina: Holcim Argentina has advanced its diversification strategy with the acquisition of coatings company Quitam. Quitam produces the Quimexur range of paints and liquid membranes. Holcim Argentina said that the range will join its GacoFlex Technoprotect waterproofing and roofing offering.

Holcim Argentina CEO Christian Dedeu said "This is a business opportunity strongly aligned with Holcim's growth strategy in Argentina, allowing us to expand our portfolio of solutions and products for construction, taking advantage of our channel of distributors and the over 450 points of sale of our Disensa retail network." Dedeu added "This agreement helps us to consolidate our 2025 strategy, with a focus on integral solutions to reinforce our leadership and continue to support the development of the construction sector.”

Paint and membranes currently constitute 11% of the Argentinian building products market.

India: Adani Group is rumoured to have entered negotiations to extend the repayment duration of its US$4bn loan for the acquisition of Holcim's Indian business. The group secured the funds in August 2022. The Economic Times newspaper has reported that the group is seeking to extend the duration of its repayments from 18 months to at least five years. It is reportedly also seeking a similar extension for a parallel US$1bn mezzanine loan tranche.

Adani Group described the rumour as 'incorrect.'

US: Heidelberg Materials subsidiary Mason City Cement plans to invest US$4 - 5m in upgrades to its kiln line by 2026. Upon completion, the work will enable the plant to achieve an alternative fuel (AF) substitution rate of 50%.

Heidelberg Materials' North America regional vice president of government affairs and communications David Perkins said "We want to be proactive as a company and really try to lower our carbon footprint and energy intensity, while recognising we have to be competitive." He added "We're a long-term industry on the cement side because of the investment that's required to produce it."