India: JK Cement has partnered with Billion Electric to deploy more than 150 heavy-duty electric trucks during its current financial year, which began in June 2026, to decarbonise its operations. The partnership began with the deployment of 20 trucks, with a gross vehicle weight of 55t, from JK Cement’s Muddapur plant in Karnataka. The trucks will transport cement to stockpiles across Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. The deployment will be supported by ChargeZone’s high-speed charging network across the three states.

Spain: According to the latest data by the Spanish Cement Manufacturers Association (Oficemen), 8.35Mt of cement were consumed between January to June 2026, 0.58Mt more than in the same period of 2025. In June 2026, consumption reached 1.56Mt, representing a year-on-year increase of 9% and 129,232t more than in the same month of 2025.

From July 2025 to June 2026, consumption stood at 17.23Mt, 12% more than in the previous twelve months. Conversely, exports continued their downward trend. For the first half of 2026, they fell by 15% to 1.95Mt, which is 0.35Mt less than the first half of 2025.

In June 2026, foreign sales fell by 12% to 0.36Mt. Exports declined by 15% year-on-year to 4.14Mt. The general director of Oficemen, Elena Guede, stated that the decline in exports is due to a structural problem and noted that the sector's foreign sales have been reduced by more than half since 2016, falling from 9.8Mt to 4.5Mt in 2025. Guede called for structural measures to reduce the energy costs of the Spanish cement industry and stated that the sector competes with a higher electricity cost structure than other European countries.

Oficemen anticipates a slowdown in the second half of the year and estimates that cement consumption growth will be around 2% by the end of 2026.

UK: Dragon Alfa Cement, a subsidiary of Cementos Portland Valderrivas that imports cement into the UK, has been fined €1.1m after one of its workers died after being crushed by equipment at the company’s bagging plant in Gloucestershire. Martin Bennett, 35, was crushed by a 1.6t concrete weight, used to raise pallets containing 25kg bags of cement. The fatal incident took place on 4 August 2021. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that a large section of the equipment’s perimeter fencing had been removed routinely over a prolonged period, allowing full access to dangerous, moving parts of the machinery. Dragon Alfa Cement was fined and ordered to pay an additional €11,275 in costs at court in Bristol on 21 July 2026.

Peru: Cementos Pacasmayo, a subsidiary of Holcim, announced today its consolidated results for the first six months of 2026 and the second quarter. For the six months, cement sales volumes increased by 14% year-on-year, mainly due to increased demand for bagged cement. Revenues increased by 13%, in line with increased sales volumes. Consolidated earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 33% year-on-year, reaching US$103m. Net income increased by 58%, reaching US$46.8m.

For the second quarter, cement and concrete sales volumes increased by 16% year-on-year, mainly due to an increase in bagged cement demand. Revenues increased by 15% year-on-year, also in line with increased sales volumes. Consolidated EBITDA increased by 34% to US$51.5m and net income was US$22.7m, a 62% increase, mainly due to higher operating income.