Global Cement News

China: China Shanshui Cement’s revenue grew by 19% year-on-year to US$2.63bn in 2018 from US$2.2bn in 2017. Its profit from operations nearly doubled to US$563m from US$295m. It reported growth in most of its operating regions, with the exception of Xinjiang Region, where revenue fell slightly to US$71.1m. It attributed its overall sales revenue growth to raised prices.

Mexico: Cemex says it has made ‘significant’ progress towards its US$1.5 – 2bn asset disposal target by the end of 2020. Since the target was announced in mid-2018 the group has announced the divestment of assets in northern Europe, a terminal in Manaus in Brazil, aggregates and ready-mix concrete (RMX) assets in Germany, its white cement business including the Buñol cement plant in Spain and other assets. These sales will generate around US$750m or half of its lower target.

“We remain completely committed towards the goal of achieving an investment grade capital structure and will continue our disciplined deleveraging and improvement of our capital structure,” said Fernando A Gonzalez, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cemex.

Chile: Cementos Bío Bío has changed its name to Cbb as as part of a rebranding exercise to target the group for the digital age and to target growth outside of Chile. Chief executive officer (CEO) Enrique Elsaca said that the change is part of the company’s Transforma 2021 plan, including investment of US$150m in Chile, Argentina and Peru, according to the El Mercurio newspaper.

It is about to inaugurate a cement grinding plant at Arica in Chile, it plans to build a US$20m plant at Arequipa in Peru for commissionoing in early 2020 and it plans to upgrade its San Juan lime plant in Argentina. It also hopes to build a new lime plant in northern Argentina to supply the lithium business.

Bolivia: Weimar Pereira, vice-minister for Medium and Large Scale Industrial Production, says that the government is close to signing new rules for cement industries that will prioritise domestic products over imported asphalt on roads and for public works. He made the statement in talks with local producers Fábrica Nacional de Cemento (FANCESA) and Cooperativa Boliviana de Cemento, Industrias y Servicios (COBOCE) as well as union representatives, according to the Correo del Sur newspaper. The new rules are expected to be implemented by August 2019.

Poland: Germany’s Bilfinger is installing refractory linings at Cemex Polska’s Rudniki cement plant. It is also carrying out assembly work at various parts of the unit. The industrial services company is installing the refractory linings for parts of the plant, which entails using around 2000t of refractory material within a five-month period. It is part of the installation of a new cement clinker production line at the site.

The contract comes under Bilfinger’s Engineering & Maintenance Continental Europe division. Companies for which Bilfinger has worked on past contracts in Poland include cement producers CRH and Dyckerhoff.