Global Cement News

US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has expressed its support of the House of Representatives' new Infrastructure and Jobs Act, consisting of a US$1.2Tn infrastructure spending plan. The plan includes US$550bn in new federal investments before 2027. US$16bn is set aside for 'major projects' requiring special funding arrangements. The legislative body voted in favour of the bill on 7 November 2021. The act awaits the signature of US President Joe Biden. Biden previously unveiled a proposed US$2.25Tn infrastructure package in March 2021.

PCA president and chief executive officer Michael Ireland said "The PCA applauds the US House of Representatives for finally passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This bipartisan infrastructure bill not only addresses years of underinvestment in the nation’s infrastructure but will spur economic growth and job creation in communities across the country, improving the quality of life and our nation’s global competitiveness. As many are still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, this legislation will further our nation’s recovery, creating thousands of well-paying jobs."

He continued "PCA members across the country appreciate the legislation passing a long-term reauthorisation of the surface transportation programme, including significant investments in our water infrastructure, providing funding for the department of energy to focus on the research, developmentand deployment of technologies for manufacturers to capture carbon emissions, and the exemption of cement from Buy America requirements. We are eager for President Biden to sign this legislation into law and start building a better future for America.”

Spain: Votorantim Cimentos has started a Euro2m project to install a new clinker cooler at its Toral de los Vados plant. The work is expected to last until early December 2021 at the subsidiary run by Cementos Cosmos. The project will improve the energy efficiency of the plant. In August 2021 construction started on a 6.2MW solar plant to supply electricity to the site.

Algeria: Lafarge Algeria announced that it had exported a total of 2Mt of cement on 9 October 2021 from the start of its operations in 2016. Horizons News has reported that the company exported 0.8Mt of cement in the first nine months of 2021, more than double that in the corresponding period of 2020. It aims to exceed 2.5Mt of cement exports by the start of 2022. Its target for 2022 is full-year cement exports of 2.6Mt, double its 2021 target of 1.3Mt.

Algeria: Groupe des Ciments d'Algérie (GICA) expects that its cement exports should reach 2Mt by the end of 2021. The cement producer started exporting in 2018 with a total of 0.27Mt and has increased this since then. It renewed its desire for a new port to support its Chlef plant in the west of the country to further boost exports.

Vietnam: Cement producers have raised their prices due to mounting coal costs. In October 2021 Bim Son Cement increased the cost of its products by 6%, according to the Viet Nam News newspaper. Other manufacturers have done likewise. Data from the Vietnam Association of Construction Contractors shows that local coal prices have grown by 7 – 10% recently. Coal represents around 40 – 45% of the production cost of cement. Prices of diesel and additives have also risen.