Global Cement News

Russia: Sibcem’s five cement plants produced 2.2Mt of cement in the first half of 2025, down by 9% year-on-year.

Topkinsky Plant’s output dropped by 12% to 0.89Mt, Iskitimcement’s fell by 15% to 0.53Mt, Krasnoyarsk Cement’s fell by 5% to 0.3Mt and TimlyuiCement’s fell by 7% to 0.18Mt. Angarskcement grew production by 3% to 0.33Mt.

First vice president of Sibcem Gennady Rasskazov said “According to our calculations, in January – June of 2025, the volume of cement consumption in Siberia (within its previous borders – taking into account Buryatia and Transbaikalia) amounted to 2.8Mt, which is 10% lower than the level of the first six months of 2024. At the same time, the situation in different regions is different. For example, in Buryatia, demand increased by 8% in the first half of the year, while in Khakassia it decreased by 28%. A significant decline was also recorded in one of the most 'capacious' markets of the Siberian Federal District: cement consumption in the Novosibirsk Region decreased by 15%.”

He added “In the future, negative trends will intensify: so far, we do not see any prerequisites that allow us to talk about an imminent recovery in demand.”

Japan: Cement producers used 21.9Mt of post-consumer materials and by-products in the 2024 financial year, down by 3% year-on-year, marking the third consecutive annual decline, according to the Japan Cement Association.

Coal ash and blast furnace slag, which together make up over 50% of the total, both declined, although post-consumer plastics increased for a fourth consecutive year.

Cement production, including clinker for export, also fell by 3% to 45.7Mt. The amount of byproducts used per tonne of cement dropped from 480kg in 2023 to 478kg, but remained above 400kg for the 21st year in a row.

Rwanda: The government signed a 15-year industrial quarry licence agreement with cement producer Cimerwa on 17 July 2025, paving the way for a US$190m investment in a clinker plant in Musanze District, according to The New Times newspaper. The agreement aims to reduce cement imports, create jobs and support Rwanda’s infrastructure development through sustainable quarrying practices, according to a statement by the Rwanda Development Board.

Cement imports rose by 42% year-on-year to US$94m in 2024 from US$64m previously, according to data from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. On 16 July 2025, the Cabinet approved new mineral, quarry and exploration licences to boost mining in the country.

Türkiye: Akros Çimento has submitted a new environmental impact assessment (EIA) application for a 2.5Mt/yr cement plant in Burcun Village, Yenişehir district, Bursa. The facility will reportedly produce CEM I, CEM II and CEM IV Type 2 SDC cements. A previous proposal to build a cement plant on the site was cancelled by court order in 2008.

The plant will be built on 466,000m² of forest land, with 71,000m² allocated for the plant. It will use coal and industrial waste as fuel and draw water from underground sources.

Its proximity to Gemlik Port, 30km away, will support exports, with remaining output serving nearby provinces including Bursa, Balıkesir, Yalova, İzmit and Istanbul.

However, Natural Life Conservation Society (DOĞADER) president Murat Demir is protesting the plant’s construction. He said to the Bursa Hakimiyet newspaper “They will most likely receive approval, because it's very easy to get an EIA in Turkey. If the approval decision is made, we will object.”

He added “Bursa has polluted water, polluted air and polluted soil. Laws and regulations are no longer based on protecting nature, but on exploiting it. We will be filing a lawsuit against this because it will create a polluting and destructive pressure on Bursa's natural structure, especially our forests, agricultural lands, and water resources.”

India: JSW Cement has launched CHD Waterguard, a water-repellent slag-based cement designed for the high-moisture conditions of southern India. The product uses ‘Turbo Gel’ Technology, which the company says ensures a polymer-enriched ‘hydration matrix’ for improved workability and compressive strength.

CEO Nilesh Narwekar said “The tropical climate of Southern India, with its intense humidity, coastal salt air and heavy monsoons, compromises the longevity of concrete structures. With CHD Waterguard, we’re offering a specialised solution that actively protects homes from seepage, dampness, salt corrosion and moisture-related damage.”