Global Cement News

Kenya: ARM Cement has signed a deal to sell its business in Kenya to the National Cement Company for US$50m. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals, according to the Business Standard newspaper. ARM Cement also has operations in Tanzania, Rwanda and some interests, in the form of unexploited mineral deposits, in South Africa.

“This transaction is in line with National Cement’s growth strategy in Kenya to position itself as the leading cement manufacturer in the region. The industry is poised for growth and we are excited about the prospects for this next chapter of our business. We will endeavor to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders including the employees, customers, and suppliers in the overall interest of Kenya,” said Narendra Raval, chairman of National Cement.

The cement producer was placed under administration in August 2018. In late 2018 Oman’s Raysut Cement said it planned to buy ARM Cement as part of its expansion plans. Nigeria’s Dangote Cement was also linked to a potential purchase of the company.

Oman: Raysut Cement Company has signed an agreement to buy Sohar Cement for US$60m. The transfer of ownership for all the shares in the company was completed in mid-May 2019, according to the Oman Daily Observer newspaper. Sohar Cement held a 70% stake in a 1.7Mt/yr grinding plant and UAE-based Fujairah Cement Company owned the rest of the shares.

Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan: Azamat Arapbaev, a member of the Kyrgz parliament, says that Uzbekistan has blocked exports of cement from Kyrgyzstan. The block started in mid-May 2019, according to the Central Asia News Service. Economy Minister Oleg Pankratov said that talks have been held with the ambassador of Uzbekistan over the matter. Cement plants in the south of Kyrgyzstan are dependent on the export market.

India: JSW Cement plans to double its cement production capacity in the eastern region to 8Mt/yr by 2023 – 24. It currently operates a 2.4Mt/yr plant at Salboni in West Bengal and a 1.5Mt/yr plant at Odhisa, according to the Press Trust of India. It intends to meet the target with a combination of upgrades and new units. It also plans to commission a new captive power plant at Salboni by July 2019.

India: Haver Ibau India has been renamed as Haver & Boecker India since April 2019. The subsidiary of Germany’s Haver & Boecker and its subsidiary Ibau started in 2008. The change in name reflects a broader industry base for the Indian subsidiary to continue to include the cement industry as well as customers from building materials, chemicals and food.