Global Cement News

India: Finland-based Betolar has launched its first concrete products manufactured using Geoprime on the Indian market. Geoprime is an additive designed for use in cement-free concrete production with ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). The new concrete product range consists of precast blocks, paving slabs and tiles, and is currently on display at World of Concrete India in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Betolar's India managing director Abhishek Bhattacharya said "We are happy to introduce our first products to our customers for the Indian markets. We have now moved from laboratory tests into the production phase, and can show concretely how well this solution works. It is great to hear the feedback from the concrete industry in the region to our sustainable solution. Decarbonisation of the concrete industry is a very current and important topic."

India: Adani Group and Jaiprakash Associates are reportedly in 'advanced talks' over the latter becoming Adani Group's latest cement sector acquisition at a price of US$606m. Reuters News has reported that Jaiprakash Associates' board of directors approved the sale of the company on 10 October 2022. Adani Group plans to buy the business via one of its newly acquired cement subsidiaries.

Adani Group is also planning a US$7.9bn investment package in a Rajasthan cement plant expansion, solar power plant project and airport upgrade. The solar power plant has a planned capacity of 10GW. Adani Group owns the 1.8Mt/yr Rabriyawas cement plant and the 5Mt/yr Lakheri cement plant in Rajasthan. The group plans to raise US$10bn to fund its growth plans. Potential investors in 'early talks' with the group include Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings.

Adani Group completed its acquisition of ACC and Ambuja Cements for US$10.5bn in September 2022.

India: JSW Cement is 'closing in' on an acquisition of some of India Cements' assets in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Business Standard newspaper has reported that JSW Cement beat an offer by UltraTech Cement for the Rajasthan assets.

India Cements began construction of a new 3Mt/yr cement plant with a dedicated limestone mine in Madhya Pradesh in 2022. In May 2022, it announced that it was contemplating a land sale in order to reduce its debt. India Cements ended the 2022 financial year with debt of US$369m, up by 1.4% year-on-year from US$364m at the close of the 2021 financial year.

Pakistan: Pakistani cement companies sold 9.61Mt of cement during the first quarter of the 2022 financial year, down by 25% year-on-year from 12.8Mt in the first quarter of the 2021 financial year. Exports declined by 34% to 1.01Mt of cement, from 1.55Mt. The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) said that current economic conditions impacted both domestic and export sales.

Separately, the APCMA has expressed its concern over State Bank of Pakistan limits on the use of letters of credit by companies for the purchase of spare parts and other machinery. The association says that present restrictive conditions will create operational difficulties for the industry.

India: Adani Group subsidiary Adani Port has sued the government of Kerala for US$9.56m in compensation for on-going delays to the construction of the upcoming Vizhinjam port in the south of the state. A local church-led protest over the rights of fishing communities has stalled construction of the port. The New India Express newspaper has reported that Adani Port had lost over US$12m on 8 October 2022 as a result of the delay. The company rented 12 barges for the work.

The government will hold talks with protestors on 13 October 2022.