Philippines: The Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) has welcomed the government’s move to impose a temporary safeguard duty of US$6.00/t on two kinds of imported cement as a measure to strengthen the local industry. In a statement on 16 October 2025 CeMAP said it ‘respects the decision’ of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to adopt the recommended measures of the Tariff Commission (TC). CeMAP had hoped that the duty, which will apply for three years, would have been higher.

The DTI earlier found a causal link between the increased imports of cement products and the serious injury to the domestic industry. This was later confirmed by the TC. In its report to the DTI, the TC said the safeguard duty is the difference between the weighted average store price of imported cement and the weighted average selling price of locally-made cement during 2024.

Europe: The European cement association Cembureau has unveiled its new identity – Cement Europe. The association said that the strategic rebrand reflect a clear evolution: building on a solid legacy to position Cement Europe as a partner driving Europe’s competitiveness and climate neutrality. 200 plants and more than 120 innovation projects are part of the association.

President of Cement Europe Jon Morrish said “Cement has always been the foundation on which Europe builds. Our new identity honours that reliability, while reflecting who we are today: a sector powering change through innovation, circularity and partnership. Cement Europe stands for strength with purpose, helping Europe build its competitive, sustainable future.”

The rebrand coincides with the launch of the Cement Action Plan, a strategic framework outlining policies to unlock investment in industrial decarbonisation while maintaining European competitiveness. The plan highlights how cement can continue to support Europe’s growth while cutting emissions in line with the sector’s Net Zero Roadmap.

India: Dalmia Bharat has reported an almost five-fold increase in consolidated net profit for the second quarter of the 2026 financial year (FY2026), which ended on 30 September 2025. The company’s net profit for the quarter was US$27.1m, up from US$5.6m a year earlier. The company’s revenue from operations rose by 10.7% year-on-year to US$388.3m.

At the same time, Dalmia Bharat announced that its 3.6Mt/yr Umrangso clinker line commenced trial production in September 2025 and is on schedule to start commercial production by the start of 2026. This will increase the company’s installed cement capacity from 49.5Mt/yr to 53.1Mt/yr.

UK: Cemex UK has launched its partnership with The Pallet LOOP, with the first load of LOOP’s reusable pallets carrying Rugby Cement products from the company’s plant in Rugby. The FSC-certified pallets are designed for multiple trips and are supported by a national collection service offering customers €2.30–€4.61 for each pallet returned. The Pallet LOOP offers €2.30 for pallets that are damaged or dirty but repairable, and €4.61 for those returned in good condition. Cemex is the first cement producer to adopt the system.

The national sales manager for bagged cement at Cemex UK, Vicki Elliott, said “The Pallet LOOP’s business model mirrors our commitment to circularity with its award-winning reuse scheme. For decades, wasted and abandoned wood pallets have posed a real challenge across the supply chain. It is great to see such a fresh and dynamic approach effectively tackling the long-standing issue of single-use pallets. We look forward to expanding the service across the full Cemex portfolio in future roll outs.”

Managing director at The Pallet LOOP Andy Williamson said "The departure of the first load of Rugby Cement products on our LOOP pallets is another major milestone for us, for Cemex and for the wider building materials sector. By rewarding customers for every pallet they return, we’re making sustainability pay - helping companies in the construction industry lower costs while also reducing waste and their carbon footprint."