Canada: Three years after Heidelberg Materials’ pilot carbon capture project at its Edmonton cement plant, it has reportedly put plans on hold. Heidelberg Materials told local press that it is ‘not moving forward’ with the project ‘at this time.’ Carbon credits in Canada are currently traded at around US$32/t, which is reportedly too low to justify the costs associated with the project.

In 2023, Heidelberg Materials signed a partnership with the government to support the US$979m project which would capture 1Mt/yr by the end of 2026. The captured CO₂ would be transported by pipeline to the Open Access Wabamun Carbon Hub in Parkland County, expected to be completed by 2027.

Jeff Seig, corporate communications director of the company, said “Heidelberg Materials regularly reviews project requirements, external support needs and resource allocations to ensure responsible stewardship of company resources and shareholder capital.”

China: Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that from January to July 2026, China’s cement production was 860Mt, representing a year-on-year decrease of nearly 9%. Among the 31 provinces in China, only five – Beijing, Guizhou, Yunnan, Heilongjiang and Hainan – achieved year-on-year growth in cement production during the first half of the year, according to Digital Cement Network. Most producers faced losses compared to the first half of 2025 due to a decline in both the volume and price of cement.

Infrastructure and real estate projects are reportedly facing funding shortages, and overall cement demand is weak, as well as extreme weather events like high temperatures and heavy rainfall affecting construction progress. China exported 4.1Mt of cement in the first half of 2026, a year-on-year increase of 54%, and 9.4Mt of clinker. The main export destinations were Bangladesh, Ghana and the Philippines.

Nigeria: The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCC) said that it has uncovered possible manipulation of cement prices in the market following a three-month investigation. The FCCPC said that the investigation followed complaints over the high cost of cement despite the country’s substantial limestone deposits and domestic production capacity. It said that the level of excess capacity had not produced the downward pressure on prices expected in a competitive market. The next stage will reportedly determine whether prices are justified by legitimate costs and market conditions or whether there is evidence of any anti-competitive practices.

Russia: Cement output increased in Russia by 3% in July 2026, reportedly the first month of the year that has recorded a positive trend. This is reportedly attributed to the gradual stabilisation of demand, due to a drop in imports.