Fiji: Pacific Cement has proposed a US$15.6m upgrade project for its plant in Lami, which reportedly includes a new cement mill, two new silos and a packing plant, according to local press. However, residents have expressed concern regarding potential impacts on the environment. At the first environmental impact assessment public consultation in Lami, CEO Josua Satavu said that the new mill would be more environmentally friendly and that commissioning was anticipated for October 2027. In response to environmental concerns regarding clinker dust and water quality, Satavu said that the company would mitigate ‘what [it] can,’ but that the mill upgrade would resolve many of the concerns raised. The proposed mill would have a production capacity of 1000t/hr at full capacity. Based on an initial questionnaire, 77% of residents agreed with the development.

Peru: National shipments totalled 1.1Mt in June 2026, registering an increase of 12% year-on-year and 11% in the accumulated 12 months. Cement production reached 1Mt, representing an increase of 11% year-on-year and 10% in the accumulated 12 months. 0.6Mt of clinker was produced, representing a decrease of 29% compared to June 2025 and 0.7% in the accumulated 12 months.

As for exports, 12,820t of cement was exported in June 2026, representing an increase of 7% compared to June 2025 and 6% in the accumulated 12 months. 62,747t of clinker was exported, representing a decrease of 36% compared to June 2026 and 28% in the accumulated 12 months. 12,014t of cement was imported, an 83% increase from June 2025 and an 18% increase in the accumulated 12 months. 74% of imports came from Chile via the Tacna land terminal and 26% came via the Port of Matarani from Vietnam. 72,250t of clinker was imported, equivalent to a year-on-year decrease of 33% and a 14% increase in the accumulated 12 months. 61% of imports via the Port of Callao and 39% came via the Port of Matarani, both from South Korea.  

Brazil: Cement sales rose by 2% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, reaching 32.9Mt, according to the cement industry association SNIC. In June 2026, 5.8Mt were sold, representing a 8% year-on-year increase. The positive results were reportedly driven by a robust labour market, with unemployment closing the quarter at the lowest rate since 2012, at 6%. However, the price of petcoke saw increases of around 30% so far in 2026, along with increases in diesel prices driving up road freight costs. A potential shift to a 40-hour week for the cement sector is estimated to raise labour costs by approximately 15%, from standard 24/7 operations. Industrial confidence improved, reflecting the easing of Middle East conflicts and the stabilisation of international oil prices. However, the construction sector showed ‘signs of pessimism’, weighed down by rising costs, slowing activity, and a ‘severe’ shortage of skilled labour.

José Eduardo Ramos, chair of the board of SNIC, said “The sector closes the first half of the year with a positive performance. Declining unemployment and a total wage bill at historic levels were key factors in this outcome. Housing - particularly the Minha Casa, Minha Vida program - combined with the acceleration of rigid-pavement road projects and concrete roadways, played a decisive role in our growth. The economic landscape calls for caution: rising inflation, upward revisions to interest rate (Selic) projections, and record levels of household debt continue to severely constrain credit capacity and consumer spending. Nevertheless, the sector maintains its outlook of ending the year with growth of close to 2%.”

Germany: CI4C, the consortium comprising cement producers Dyckerhoff, Heidelberg Materials, Schwenk Zement and Vicat, has officially inaugurated its oxyfuel carbon capture project at the Mergelstetten cement plant. Vicat said that the ‘catch4climate’ project had been seven years in the making. The oxyfuel process was designed by thyssenkrupp Polysius and the project received private investments of more than €120m, with a 450t/day rotary kiln line built at the plant. The facility is reportedly the first to use the ‘pure oxyfuel’ process for carbon capture and is dedicated exclusively to research and development. More than 200 guests attended the event, including Baden-Württemberg’s Minister for the Environment Thekla Walker.  

The project had already reached important milestones: At the end of May 2026, clinker was successfully produced for the first time. In mid-June 2026, the first supply of oxygen to the facility took place.