Global Cement News

Pakistan: Lebanon's Pharaon Investment Group Limited is reportedly considering the sale of its 84% stake in Attock Cement Pakistan, according to Pakistan Today. The holding company recently announced that it was re-evaluating its long-term strategic options in Pakistan, which also include Attock Petroleum, Attock Oil Company and Attock Refinery.

Attock Cement has been 'battered' by low demand in the Pakistani cement industry in recent years, following a period of expansion in the early 2010s. It produced 0.31Mt of cement in the first quarter of the 2025 financial year (to 30 September 2024), an 11% year-on-year fall from 0.35Mt a year earlier.

India: Prism Johnson has implemented the Ramco ERP Suite across its cement operations. Ramco ERP Suite is an enterprise resource planning system that incorporates maintenance, sales and distribution. Tools include a Contract Labour Management System for work shifts and Interactive Business Intelligence System for transaction management, along with GIS-enabled applications. Ramco also offers a Real-Time Integrator module to connects its Process Suite Advanced Process Control Expert Optimisers to the suite.

Colombia: Grupo Argos and finance conglomerate Grupo Sura have signed a spin-off agreement to dispose of their cross-shareholdings. This includes Grupo Argos subsidiary Cementos Argos’ stake in Grupo Sura. Grupo Argos will continue to focus on building materials and allied sectors.

President Jorge Mario Velásquez of Grupo Argos said “The cross-shareholding structure has far exceeded its objective: Grupo Argos consolidated its presence across the Americas, achieving compound annual growth of 21% in shareholder equity over the past 46 years and positioning Cementos Argos, utilities provider Celsia and construction firm Odinsa as regional leaders in their sectors. The simplification of the shareholding structure and portfolio will become another significant milestone in the disclosure and transfer of value to all Grupo Argos shareholders.”

Sweden: Bruks Siwertell has received an order for a 10 000 S mobile ship unloader for an undisclosed client. The customer owner will use the unloader as part of a rental ship unloading service, operating across multiple port locations. The order is scheduled for commissioning in spring 2025. It will be delivered fully assembled ready for operation. Jörgen Ojeda, Sales Director, Mobile Unloaders, Bruks Siwertell added that the client had previously used an Siwertell 15 000 S mobile ship unloader for nearly two decades.

China/Denmark: Denmark-based FLSmidth Cement has signed a licensing agreement with Sinoma International Intelligent Technology (IIT) covering the production and sale of QCX lab equipment in China. Cyril Leung, Country Head China – FLSmdith, said “The deal effectively provides us a new sales channel and represents our continued commitment to enhancing our services in the world’s largest cement market.”

All QCX equipment that FLSmidth Cement supplies outside of China will continue to be made in Brno, Czech Republic. Development and delivery of QCX software will remain in Denmark. FLSmidth noted that the agreement has no impact on the ongoing divestment of FLSmidth Cement.
FLSmidth Cement’s QCX lab equipment supports sampling, preparation and analysis. Products in the range include the QCX/RoboLab laboratory automation system, analysers, sample preparation products, quality control systems and laboratory software.