China: Cement companies produced 249Mt of cement in May 2020, up by 8.6% year-on-year from 229Mt in May 2019. Xinhua News Agency has reported that cement production in the first four months of 2020 was 520Mt, down by 18% from 637Mt over the corresponding period of 2019. Four-month sales revenue fell by 13% year-on-year to US$32.9bn from US$37.8bn. Net profit fell by 18% to US$4.99bn from US$6.01bn. April 2020 was the first month of the year in which sales and profit grew, by 4.4% and 0.6% respectively.

Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA) has suggested the removal a 3% non-refundable advance income tax (AIT) and a 3% import duty on raw materials, as well as the reduction of a US$5.88/t import duty on clinker by 40% to US$3.53/t. The Dhaka Tribune newspaper has reported that BCMA members are struggling to pay their dues due to the impacts of the coronavirus lockdown, which caused the sector a loss of US$353m between 21 March 2020 and 21 June 2020.

BCMA President Mohammed Kabir said, “To generate taxes and revenue from this sector, the government should save our businesses and meet our logical demands in the final budget. We are really frustrated that our demands were unaddressed in the proposed budget. Our working capital will dwindle if the government keeps charging the AIT.” He added, “If the government does not remove the 3% non-adjustable AIT, then at least it should be declared as adjustable tax.”

Uzbekistan: The government has announced the sale of shares in UzAssets, an investment company founded to privatise its 36% stake in Qizilqumsement. The Information Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan (DUNYO) has reported that Qizilqumsement is a 51% subsidiary of Uzpromstroymaterialy, with the remainder held by private minority shareholders. Qizilqumsement operates the 3.8Mt/yr Qizilqumsement cement plant in Navoi, Navoiy Region.

Sri Lanka: Siam City Cement subsidiary Insee Cement says it is ramping up production at its 0.4Mt/yr Galle grinding plant. The unit in Southern Province opened in 2018. The Daily FT newspaper has reported that the grinding plant, along with Insee’s Puttalam integrated plant, will have the production capacity to serve 100% of domestic demand. The producer added that production and supply of its products had returned to normal following disruption caused by coronavirus-related lockdown measures.

Insee Cement sales, marketing and innovation executive vice president Jan Kunigk said, “Our contribution to uplifting the nation’s economy is of immense value in rebuilding Sri Lanka during post-pandemic recovery. Insee Cement’s ability to efficiently deliver our full capacity of high-quality cement needed by individual house builders and concrete business partners has always been ensured.”