Global Cement News

Nepal: Construction activities in Nepal have been impacted as a result of private cement manufacturers raising prices, allegedly through cartelisation, according to Online Khabar news. According to Ravi Singh, president of the Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal, contractors are struggling to purchase cement at the increased rates.

He said “On one hand, contractors have not been paid for completed projects, and on the other, rising cement prices have pushed many to consider halting construction altogether.”

He accused manufacturers of cutting production by up to 40% to create an artificial shortage, calling it “a tactic to manufacture scarcity and exploit the situation.”

Many contractors have already stopped purchasing cement at the new prices. Cement producers defended the price rise, claiming it corrects previous underpricing caused by ‘unhealthy competition’. The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has held discussions with producers, giving them seven days to justify the price hike and submit their price lists.

Poland: Imports of Ukrainian cement to Poland are expected to rise from over 500,000t in 2024 to 1.5Mt in 2025, according to Ukraine Business News. Before the war, Ukraine consumed 12Mt/yr of cement, now reduced to 4Mt/yr, with the surplus exported mainly to Poland. Ivano-Frankivskcement, Ukraine’s largest producer, is currently expanding its capacity to 4Mt/yr, which could threaten the Polish cement industry.

The Polish Cement Producers Association said “The uncontrolled cement flow from Ukraine is unfair competition, since its producers do not bear the EU’s climate policy costs. Therefore, we cannot compete with Ukrainian imports.” It demands limiting duty-free imports to the average level of the past three years during the 2025 EU-Ukraine trade agreement review.

Germany: Claudius Peters has launched its Eta 5.0 clinker cooler. According to the company, Eta 5.0 offers energy savings, lower maintenance downtime and reduced environmental impact. It also features efficiency improvements, such as a new low-pressure-drop system and reduced friction in the transport system. The new cooler can be retrofitted to existing installations with minimal intervention.

India: The Rural Development Department of Himachal Pradesh has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ambuja Cements to address the issue of non-recyclable plastic waste in the state. Under this partnership, Ambuja Cements will collaborate with the department to co-process non-recyclable plastic in its cement kilns. The initiative will cover the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Shimla and Solan, where 29 plastic waste management units have been established.

Sweden: NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers has placed an order for Climeon’s organic rankine cycle (ORC) waste heat recovery technology, HeatPower 300, to be installed on a new methanol dual-fuel cement carrier. The HeatPower 300 unit will generate up to 300kW of electricity on board the carrier by harnessing residual heat from the engine cooling water and exhaust gases to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.