Global Cement News

UK: British Precast, whose members include manufacturers of concrete masonry, paving slabs, structural sections and drainage systems, has merged with the Mineral Products Association (MPA) which represents all the UK’s cement makers, over 90% of aggregates producers and more than 70% of ready-mixed concrete suppliers. The merger is intended to give the British concrete industry a single voice, with the sector’s advocacy body, UK Concrete, lobbying on behalf of the sector on sustainability issues. It should also unite the industry behind the ‘Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero’ plan by 2050.

Alan Smith, who retires as President of British Precast, said, “British Precast has been affiliated with the MPA for the past decade and the successful relationship we have built has given our members the confidence to fully support this merger. Coming together enables the industry to operate more strategically, rejuvenating our determination to rise to the challenges of climate change and emphasise the importance of our industry in climate adaptation.”

Two new MPA product groups have been formed as a result of the merger: MPA Precast and MPA Masonry. They join existing MPA product groups including The Concrete Centre and the British Ready-mixed Concrete Association (BRMCA).

India: UltraTech Cement plans to invest US$129m in capacity expansion projects in order to increase the production capacity of its Birla White brand white cement by 93% to 12.5Mt/yr from 6.5Mt/yr. The Aditya Birla subsidiary says that it will commission the new capacity in a phased manner. The investment aims to strengthen Birla White cement’s presence in the growing white cement market and to reduce its dependence on high-cost imports.

India: UltraTech Cement recorded consolidated sales of US$1.74bn in the third quarter of the 2022 financial year, up by 5.8% year-on-year. Its net profit in the quarter was US$229bn.

The Business Standard newspaper reported that the producer maintained a strong cement volumes growth trajectory, with 13% year-on-year cement sales growth throughout the first nine months of the 2022 financial year.

Zimbabwe: Lafarge Zimbabwe has concluded its assessment of the collapse of its Manresa grinding plant’s roof, which occured in October 2021. The company warned investors that continued disruptions to cement production and the cost of repairs will have a negative impact on its 2022 first-quarter results. It added that normal operations would resume ‘as soon as possible.’

Belgium: Holcim has completed its acquisition of speciality building products company PTB-Compaktuna. The group said that the acquisition further expands its service-led offering in the repair and refurbishment market.

CEO Jan Jenisch said “I am excited to add PTB-Compaktuna to the Holcim family as another step in the expansion of solutions and products, advancing our Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth. This addition strengthens our presence in Europe in key markets like repair and refurbishment. Building on the entrepreneurial vision and legacy of the Smessaert family, I look forward to investing in this business’ next era of growth and warmly welcoming their employees into the Holcim family.”