Global Cement News

Iran: Cement production fell by 4.8% year-on-year to 37.7Mt in the eight-month period to 21 November 2017. The decline has been blamed on a recession in the construction industry, poor natural gas supplies and falling export rates, according to the Trend News Agency. The country produced 54.1Mt of cement in its last financial year. Cement production capacity has risen significantly locally from 29.5Mt/yr in 2001 to 83Mt/yr in 2017. The number of cement plants has grown from 30 to 72.

Pakistan: Mega Conglomerate says it plans to buy an 87.5% stake in Dewan Cement. The buyer operates in the dairy and real estate sectors. Dewan Cement operates two cement plants. Bestway Cement and Fecto Cement have previously made bids for Dewan Cement.

Mozambique: The African Elephant cement grinding plant is operating at a third of its production capacity due to low demand. The Chinese-owned plant near Pemba, Cabo Delgado in the north of the country is producing around 300t/day despite the plant’s production capacity of 1000t/day, according to sources quoted by the Mozambique News Agency. The plant’s manager expects demand to pickup once investment in the gas industry increase. The company has suffered from imports from Tanzania.

Colombia: Cement production fell by 1.5% year-on-year to 12.3Mt in 2017 from 12.5Mt in 2016. Sales fell by 1% to 12Mt from 12.1Mt, according to data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). Sales in Antioquia, Caldas and Nariño rose by 5.7%, 16% and 17.1%, respectively. However, sales in Casanare, Cordoba and Santander dropped by 29.5%, 15.9% and 7.4%, respectively.

US: United States Lime & Minerals grew its sales revenue in 2017 due to higher business from its oil and gas services and industrial customers. Total revenue grew by 4% year-on-year to US$145m in 2017 from US$139m in 2016. The producer raised the price of its lime and limestone products in 2017.

“Demand for our lime and limestone products in the fourth quarter and full year 2017 remained steady. In addition to the St Clair replacement kiln project, we continue to seek innovative ways to enhance efficiencies at all of our facilities so we can compete in what remains a challenging pricing environment,” said Timothy W Byrne, president and chief executive officer of United States Lime & Minerals.