Eswatini: The Eswatini Competition Commission (ESCC) has conditionally approved the acquisition of 100% of AfriSam eSwatini by Singapore-based West International New Building Materials (WINBM). The competition watchdog imposed safeguards to prevent the transaction from weakening competition in the country’s cement market. The transaction was notified to the commission on 17 December 2025, and was determined by the technical committee of the Board of Commissioners on 8 July 2026.

WINBM is an investment company incorporated in Singapore and has no physical presence in Eswatini. However, its group imports cement into the country from Mozambique Dugongo Cimentos, a subsidiary through which it participates in the local cement market. AfriSam, meanwhile, is incorporated in South Africa and indirectly wholly owns AfriSam eSwatini. The local subsidiary operates a cement blending facility in Matsapha and sources bulk cement and other input materials from AfriSam in South Africa.

Libya: State-owned company Ahlia Cement has reportedly been forced to close its plants in Zliten and Khoms, according to the Libya Herald. The newspaper reported that there had been conflicting reports regarding the reason for the closure, including that the military had closed the headquarters of National Cement, along with its Al-Marqab and Aribya Zliten cement plants, dismissing employees and preventing them from entering the premises. This action had reportedly come after the company’s CEO had refused to stop reserving and dispensing quantities of cement for private companies, arousing suspicions of corruption related to cement distribution operations. The alleged reserved shipments amounted to 60 truckloads per day.

Another report suggested that an armed group from Misrata stormed the company’s headquarters, in order to seize all cement orders and sell them on the market at fives times the ex-factory price.  

Pakistan: Cherat Cement has reported profits of US$25.9m in the 2026 financial year, reflecting a 16% year-on-year decline. Net revenue for the quarter to 30 June 2026 declined by 9% year-on-year to US$32.9m, though it increased by 13% quarter-on-quarter, driven by higher domestic despatches.

India: Humboldt Wedag has overseen the pouring of 109,000m³ of reinforced concrete at the Goldcrest greenfield integrated cement plant over the past 14 months, with major civil work on process buildings and clinker production due to complete by 15 September 2026, with 3000m³ remaining. Mechanical erection is due to be completed by November 2026 and cement grinding is scheduled for February 2027, according to a LinkedIn post by Ashok Dembla from Humboldt Wedag. Global Cement previously reported in May 2025 that the plant will have a cement capacity of 4.5Mt/yr and a clinker capacity of 3.5Mt/yr. Humboldt Wedag India was appointed engineering, procurement and construction contractor and targets completion by March 2027.