Global Cement News

Israel: Danny Tal, the commissioner for trade levies at the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, will recommend duties on cement imports from Greece and Turkey. Nine different manufacturers will be affected by anti-dumping duties of 7-20%.

Tal drew up the duties following a complaint by cement maker Har-Tuv, which said continued cheap imports would lead to its closure. The complaint was also supported by Nesher Cement, Israel’s only clinker producer.

Tal concluded that the Greek and Turkish companies had violated fair trade rules, with the Greek companies generally ‘dumping’ at lower prices than the Turkish ones.

"We welcome the decision to protect the local industry from illegal imports and to maintain the industry and fair competition over time, and we hope that the recommendation will be adopted and implemented by all relevant levels as soon as possible," said Har-Tuv.

Uzbekistan: The largest cement plant in Central Asia has been commissioned in the Sherabad district of the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan. Construction of the Sherabad cement plant has been carried out by Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (AMMC) JSC. The cost of the project was US$212.8m and its capacity is 1.5Mt/yr. The majority of the cement produced will be directed toward domestic demand. The Turkish DAL Teknik Makina Ticaret ve Sanayi AS company also participated in the construction of the plant.

The project was paid for by AMMC's own funds (US$24.4m), a loan issued by the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan (US$90m) and loans from commercial banks (US$110.6m).

There are currently five large cement plants in Uzbekistan: Kyzylkumcement, Akhangarancement, Kuvasaycement, Bekabadcement, Jizzakh cement plant, as well as a number of small enterprises. Their total capacity exceeds 8.5Mt/yr. Over the next five years, Uzbekistan plans to increase its national capacity to 17Mt/yr, double the current level.

Companies with projects under construction or in the planning process include Russia’s Eurocement Group, which is building a US$220m dry process plant with a capacity of 2.4Mt/yr. Two more cement plants will be built with funds from Chinese investors. The first is being built by the Xin Lei enterprise in the Akhangaran region. It will have an annual capacity of 1.0Mt/yr at cost of US$108m. The other will be established by Akhangaranshifer at a cost of US$100m, also with a capacity of 1.0Mt/yr.

Ireland: CRH’s financial results for the first half of 2018 have been negatively affected by poor weather in Europe and North America. Its sales revenue rose by 1% year-on-year to Euro11.9bn in the reporting period. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 1% to Euro1.13bn from Euro1.12bn.

“We have had a good first half, despite significant weather disruption in Europe and North America in the first quarter. Construction markets continued to recover and pricing gathered momentum in key European markets, while there was solid volume and price growth against a positive economic backdrop in the Americas,” said chief executive Albert Manifold. He added that the company was experiencing ‘challenging’ conditions in the Philippines.

India: Prism Johnson, formerly known as Prism Cement, has received a letter of intent from the state government of Madhya Pradesh allocating it a mining lease for limestone. The agreement lasts 50 years for a site at Bairiah and Chormari villages and it includes approximately 77Mt of reserves.

China: Dongwu Cement turnover has been boosted by rising cement prices in the first half of 2018. Its sales revenue rose by 60% year-on-year to US$31.9m in the first half of 2018 from US$19.9m in the same period in 2017. Its profit more than doubled to US$4.18m from US$1.47m. Its sales volumes of cement grew by 11% to 0.67Mt from 0.6Mt.