Global Cement News

Philippines: Holcim Philippines is promoting its retail mobile app called Easybuild. It is intended to allow customers to place orders, check delivery status and review account history and credit, among others functions. The company has initially partnered with leading financial institution Metrobank for an online payment facility. Nearly 700 customers are using the system. It is the latest version of Holcim Philippines’ online customer service portal, which it pioneered in the cement industry in 2001. Already available for the Android operating system, an iOS version will be launched in August 2019.

France: Lafarge France plans to launch a reusable cement pallet scheme in October 2019. The new single-size wooden pallets for bagged cement will be reinforced for use at least six times. They will be used at all of the company’s sites across its range of bagged cement products. The pallets will also include Lafarge branding. A saving of 7500t/yr of wood is anticipated. The scheme is part of the Lafarge 360 initiative.

Ireland: CRH has agreed to sell its Europe Distribution business to private equity funds managed by Blackstone for Euro1.64bn. The business comprises CRH’s entire General Builders Merchants business in Europe, including its Sanitary Heating and Plumbing business. It supplies building materials to professional builders, specialist contractors and DIY customers through a network of local and regional brands across six countries in Western Europe. The divestment follows a strategic review of the business in 2019. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

India: Emami Group has chosen Arpwood Capital and Credit Suisse to manage the sale of its cement business. It is seeking a sale value of around US$1bn according to sources quoted by the Business Standard newspaper. However, the company is still deciding the size of the stake it wants to sell. UltraTech Cement was reported to be in talks to buy a stake in Emami Cement in late June 2019.

Germany/US: Germany’s Baltrader and US-based United Bulk Carriers (UBC) have launched the Cement Carrier Alliance (CCA) to cooperate the marketing of their respective fleets of pneumatic cement carriers. The aim of the deal is to offer a wider range of vessel sizes to existing and new customers while enhancing marketing to current and developing markets. The two companies operate 15 self-discharging cement carriers with a range of 3000 – 15,000DWT vessels.

Both companies will remain independent entities each operating out of their own offices while offering continuity in their customer relationships. CCA will be jointly represented by the UBC office in Philadelphia and the Baltrader office in Hamburg.