Global Cement News

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement Company has reached a milestone in its kiln expansion project with the installation of a 160t-capacity surge bin and solid fuel equipment.

The development ensures a stable and increased fuel supply to the kiln during cement production, according to Loop News.

Jorge Martinez, managing director of Caribbean Cement, said “The successful installation marks a significant step forward in enhancing our production capabilities. This investment is a main milestone of the expansion project to be completed in the first half of 2025 with the aim of increasing the efficiency and stability of our operations. It also demonstrates our commitment to meeting the local demand for cement.”

India: UltraTech Cement has begun transporting mineral gypsum via National Waterway 1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system) in a pilot project supported by the Inland Waterways Authority of India and Inland & Coastal Shipping, a Shipping Corporation of India subsidiary.

The consignment is being shipped from Haldia port, West Bengal, to the Gaighat terminal in Patna, Bihar. It will then be transported to UltraTech’s Pataliputra Cement Works grinding unit in Bihar. UltraTech is reportedly the first Indian cement company to utilise National Waterway 1 for large-scale gypsum transport, with the aim to cut CO₂ emissions and ease congestion on roads and railways.

Vietnam: Vietnam National Cement Corporation (Vicem) has reported consolidated losses for the second consecutive year, of US$55.15m, according to a draft annual report by the Ministry of Construction. Vicem is the only company among six under the ministry to report losses in 2024, with a consolidated loss of US$55.15m due to ‘unfavourable market conditions’, according to The Investor magazine. Its parent company’s loss reached US$9.33m. In 2023, it reported its first-ever loss of US$44.5m amid a drop in demand following the 2016 economic slowdown. By the end of 2023, cumulative losses reached US$88.24m.

The Ministry of Finance's inspection department recently highlighted capital loss risks in Vicem’s subsidiary investments, requiring provisions exceeding US$118.2m. Inspectors have urged the company to assess the financial performance of underperforming businesses.

Global: The World Cement Association has released a white paper titled ‘Long-Term Forecast for Cement and Clinker Demand’, authored by CEO Ian Riley. The paper predicts a global decline in cement demand to 3Bnt/yr by 2050, with clinker demand dropping to 1.5Bnt/yr.

The report attributes the decline to decarbonisation, technological advancements and market dynamics, with the need for carbon capture and storage consequently reduced.

Ian Riley said “The cement industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. As we move towards a decarbonised future, understanding the true demand for cement and clinker is critical to ensuring that policies, technologies and investments align with reality. This white paper aims to provide industry leaders and policymakers with the clarity needed to plan effectively and sustainably.”

The analysis also explores disruptive factors such as alternative materials, supply chain optimisation and clinker-free technologies, presenting three scenarios to guide stakeholders in adapting to industry changes and fostering innovation.

Germany: Capsol Technologies has signed a cooperation agreement with Holcim to deliver a CapsolGo carbon capture demonstration campaign at Holcim’s Dotternhausen plant in southern Germany. The CapsolGo campaign will test Capsol’s carbon capture technology using its hot potassium carbonate (HPC) solvent. Capsol Technologies will provide the demonstration as a turnkey solution, including testing and validation to supply critical data and insight into the technology.

Dieter Schillo, plant manager of Holcim (Süddeutschland), said “The CapsolEoP (End-of-Pipe) unit’s design, requiring no external steam supply and exhibiting low energy consumption, makes it an attractive option for our Dotternhausen plant.”

If successful, Holcim plans to deploy Capsol’s technology across multiple cement plants globally. This builds on a feasibility study conducted by Aggregate Industries UK, a Holcim subsidiary, for the Cauldon cement plant in Stoke-on-Trent. Testing at Dotternhausen will run for four months, starting in the second quarter of 2025.