India: Shree Cement has recorded consolidated net sales of US$1.27bn in the first nine months of its 2021 financial year (1 April 2020 – 31 March 2021), down by 2% year-on-year from US$1.29bn in the corresponding period of its 2019 financial year. The group’s net profit increased by 52% to US$204m from US$138m.

The company is currently working on a 6Mt/yr addition to its grinding capacity, consisting of two new grinding plants, in Athagarh Tehsil, Odisha, and Patas, Maharashtra. The facilities had been scheduled for completion in the first half of the 2021 financial year.

Japan/Indonesia: Taiheiyo Cement says that its board has approved and concluded its deal with Semen Indonesia to buy a 15% stake in its subsidiary Solusi Bangun Indonesia (SBI) for around US$220m. As part of the agreement, SBI’s Tuban plant will increase its export capacity by building a new jetty and silos. It will then export 0.5Mt/yr of cement to Taiheiyo Cement’s subsidiary in the US. The Japanese cement producer said that is focusing on markets in South-East Asia as part of its sustainable business development strategy in response to projected long term declining cement demand in Japan.

US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has updated its winter 2020 – 2021 economic forecast. Senior vice president and chief economist Ed Sullivan said that in light of possible delays of three months or more to the national Covid-19 vaccine rollout, predicted robust economic recovery will be ‘slower than expected’ compared to expectations stated in the original forecast in December 2020. The PCA’s Market Intelligence Group expects cement consumption to grow by nearly 1% year-on-year in 2021, fueled largely by residential construction.

Greece: Titan Cement has signed a frame agreement with Belgium-based Magotteaux whereby the latter will continue to be the main partner for grinding media for Titan cement plants worldwide until the end of 2021. Magotteaux says that the deal follows the ‘very successful’ implementation of the first phase of a strategic partnership.

The supplier said, “Magotteaux is also proud to supply many more technical solutions to Titan, including ball mill internal cast parts such as liners and diaphragms.” It added, “The aim of this agreement is to improve Titan’s overall cost of production, by increasing the productivity, reducing maintenance cost and downtime, by using the latest technologies for the abrasive and impact applications.”