Global Cement News

Kenya: A report by the National Independent Clinker Verification Committee has found that the country has a clinker shortage of up to 3.3Mt/yr. It added that 59% of the imported clinker to compensate for this originates from Egypt without any tariffs, according to the East African newspaper. The committee was originally set up by the government in response to lobbying from industry to increase the duty on imported clinker to 25% from 10% at present. However, the committee also reported that Egypt has benefited from a free trade agreement. Local producers are divided against the proposal to raise tariffs on clinker as some of them reply on imports.

The report found that 3.8Mt of clinker was produced locally in 2020 against a demand of 5.3Mt. Local producers were reported to have been operating at a 65% capacity utilisation rate. Egypt and the UAE accounted for 92% of all clinker imports with a further 7% supplied by Saudi Arabia.

South Africa: The National Treasury has banned the use of imported cement on all government-funded projects from 4 November 2021. The new rules require all tender invitations to use locally produced cement, made from locally sourced raw materials, according to the Business Day newspaper. Trade body Cement and Concrete SA has welcomed the move. The decision follows lobbying by the cement industry to impose tariffs on imported cement.

Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement's revenues in the nine-month period which ended on 30 September 2021 were US$67.6m, up by 8% year-on-year from US$62.6m in the corresponding period of 2020. Sales volumes rose by 4% to 1.38Mt from 1.33Mt.

Kazakhstan Newsline has reported that projected full-year Kazakh cement demand rose by 24% in the period to 11.3Mt, of which Steppe Cement controls a 14% share. The share of imports remained level at 7%. Nine-month cement exports were 1.4Mt nationally.

India: Local press expects UltraTech Cement to be the successful bidder for the 210Mt-capacity Ramstahn Ghunchihai limestone mine in Madhya Pradesh. Sree Jayajothi Cements is the preferred bidder in another auction, for a large limestone quarry in Andhra Pradesh. Nine limestone mines sold at auction in the first half of the 2022 financial year.

India: Ambuja Cement has received validation from the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) that its CO₂ reduction targets conform to a well below zero global warming scenario. India Infoline News has reported that Ambuja Cement is committed to a Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO₂ emissions reduction of 21% to 453kg/t of cementitious materials by 2030 from 531kg/t in 2020. Over this period, it aims to reduce Scope 1 emissions by 20% and Scope 2 emissions by 43%.

Ambuja's chief executive officer and managing director Neeraj Akhoury said “We are constantly dedicated and invested in sustainable development and aim to include sustainability in all operational and project planning. With science-based targets developed and validated, Ambuja Cement has now joined the group of global companies promoting an ambitious low carbon economy model for the industry. Being part of the Holcim group and one of the pioneers in the Indian cement industry, we have taken another step towards strengthening our Climate Change adaptability by joining the Race to Zero." He added "Ambuja Cement will continue to implement such best practices and adopt continuous improvement initiatives to achieve our business vision to be most competitive and sustainable company in our industry.