The blue line shows the proposed boundary, the red line shows the new boundary following the consultation. Source: Peak Cluster

UK: Peak Cluster has revised the proposed pipeline route for its cement and lime carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, which involves Breedon Cement’s Hope plant, Tarmac’s Tunstead plant and Holcim’s Cauldon plant. The route was revised following over 5500 responses to Peak Cluster’s Phase 1 consultation, and as a result of ongoing technical studies, engineering assessments and environmental surveys. It said that the previously 300m consultation corridor was reduced to approximately 100m, but that this was wider than the land expected to be required permanently for the pipeline, and allows scope for further design development, environmental mitigation and construction planning as the project progresses. Approximately 15% of the proposed route was amended.

It will continue to consult with landowners throughout the year and, in November 2026, it will hold a consultation on the proposed locations for pipeline infrastructure, including above ground installations and block valve stations, temporary construction areas and access arrangements in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire.

Russia: Loading of cement on the OJSC Russian Railways network grew by 6% year-on-year in August 2026 and amounted to 2.2Mt. The largest proportion of cement, 2.1Mt, went to the domestic market, up by 6% year-on-year, while exports amounted to 0.1Mt, up by 7%.

The regions that recorded the highest volumes of cement transported were Krasnodar Territory (0.26Mt), the Sverdlovsk and Volgograd regions (0.16Mt) and the Kemerovo region (0.16Mt). Positive trends were recorded in the summer of 2026 after a long period of declining transportation - growth in May 2026 was 4%, in June 2026 growth was 6.5% and in July 2026 growth was 4%.

Spain: In Spain, 11Mt of cement were consumed between January and August 2026, representing a growth of 5% compared to the same period of 2025, according to the latest figures published by Oficemen. From September 2025 to August 2026, consumption increased by 9% to 17Mt, 1.4Mt more than in the preceding period (September 2024 to August 2025). However, the decline experienced in July (-1.6%) and August (-5.2%) 2026 resulted in a combined loss of 86,000t compared to the same months in 2025.

“These figures align with the anticipated slowdown in cement consumption for the second half of the year, which we already warned about mid-year. In fact, we believe this slowdown will intensify even further in the coming months, ending the year at around 2%,” said Elena Guede, CEO of Oficemen.

In the first eight months of 2026, exports fell by 15% to 2.6Mt, representing a loss of 0.47Mt compared to the same period in 2025. In July, exports fell by 13%, while in August they dropped by 22%. Therefore, approximately 0.14Mt of cement sales abroad were lost compared to the same period in 2025. Rolling year data from September 2025 to August 2026 also shows a decrease of 17%, with a volume of 4Mt, 0.83Mt less than in the previous period (September 2024 to August 2025).

Taiwan/Ukraine: The board of directors of Taiwan-based TCC Group Holdings has authorised its Dutch subsidiary to acquire a 100% share in Ivano-Frankivskcement (IFCEM), Ukraine's second-largest cement producer, and three related building materials firms for value of €750m. IFCEM holds a 36% market share in Ukraine and has reportedly maintained uninterrupted production and sales throughout Russia's war on Ukraine. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals from Taiwan, Ukraine and other jurisdictions.

TCC said that it is hoping to extend its European cement operations from Southern and Western Europe into Eastern Europe and position itself to participate in Ukraine's long-term reconstruction once the war ends.