China: West China Cement expects to record a net profit of US$49.9 – 55.4m in the first half of 2026, down by 50 – 55% year-on-year. The producer attributed the anticipated decline to a drop in its cement sales volumes and selling prices.

India: Mangalam Cement’s sales rose by 0.8% to US$47.8m in the first quarter of the 2027 financial year (begun 1 April 2026). Operating expenditure also rose, by 7% year-on-year to US$42.2m. The producer attributed this primarily to a rise in its inventory value, to US$2.58m. As a result, profit before tax fell by 38% year-on-year.

Afghanistan: Gulbahar Cement Factory has started construction of an upcoming US$143m, 1.1Mt/yr cement plant in Herat’s Zinda Jan district. Pajhwok Afghan News has reported that the plant will generate 5000 new jobs in the area.

Global Cement News previously reported plans for an expansion of the same capacity and price to the unfinished Injil cement plant outside Herat in October 2023. It remains unclear whether the latest news affects this project and possibly signifies a change of plans.

Zimbabwe: Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) is on schedule to commence production at an upcoming 400,000t/yr slag cement grinding plant at its Manhize metallurgical complex in Midlands Province in October 2026. The Chronicle newspaper has reported that the plant will use granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) from the complex’s steel production. The complex is undergoing a Phase 2 expansion to increase its production of downstream steel products, due for commissioning later in 2026. DISCO is due to complete construction of a new road from the complex’s mines in August 2026.