Global Cement News

Saudi Arabia: Al Jouf Cement Company’s board of directors has accepted the resignation of Suleiman Abdulaziz Al-Zaben as chair of its audit committee. Al-Zaben had been serving as committee member from outside the board.

In July 2024, Al Jouf Cement Company took legal action against unnamed former board members, following an investigation into possible ‘administrative irregularities’ by an independent auditor launched in December 2023.

Zimbabwe: Huaxin Cement has invested US$15m in a new manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe, according to Bulawayo 24 News. The company has set up a subsidiary Huaxin Zimbabwe, to oversee operations. Huaxin Zimbabwe director Clemence Gomba said that the initial capacity will be 300,000t/yr, potentially increasing to 1Mt/yr if lime reserves are accessed, adding that he wanted “Zimbabweans to get cement at their doorsteps.” The plant will serve both local and export markets. Huaxin plans to employ five Chinese nationals and 200 local people.

Company CEO Mr Chen said “We started construction of the site last month [September 2024] and we hope to finish by the end of November 2024. In December 2024, we will start the production of cement. The plant will start with a production capacity of 25,000t/month of cement, we will mainly be manufacturing 32.5 and 42.5 cement. We hope to satisfy the local market so that we can reduce our imports. We hope to find some limestone reserves so that we will not be importing any clinker.”

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu toured the site, saying that Zimbabwe is experiencing a surge in imports mainly from Zambia and South Africa, a reflection that local production is ‘not satisfying’ the market.

Portugal: Cimpor has signed a 10-year extendable contract with Vodafone Portugal for private ‘pure’ 5G network installations at its plants, starting with the Alhandra plant and soon expanding to Souselas and Loulé. This network will aim to improve data management and operational efficiencies across Cimpor's cement business and eventual expansion to other sectors. Technology partners include Germany-based SAP and Sweden-based Ericsson.

Cimpor's chief technology officer Berkan Fidan said that the company felt the need to make this investment because the cement industry is data-intensive, and the collection of available data is a challenge due to the physical and operational conditions at the plants.

This partnership makes it possible to obtain precise quality reviews of the cement manufactured at the plants without having to wait 28 days. It also gives total visibility of the plant, making emission forecasts and maintenance easier. The deal involves around 10,000 sensors in 19 plants globally, 50 antennas, drones to measure stock levels and thermal cameras with real-time monitoring capabilities. The long-term strategy with Vodafone also involves the use of smart glasses with video streaming functionalities inside the plants. Fidan explained that the plants have some connectivity challenges, which is why the company is investing heavily in the mobile network.

Canada: Sustainable materials startup EnviCore has raised US$3m in its seed funding round led by CSN Inova Ventures (the corporate venture capital arm of Brazil’s Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional), Heidelberg Materials and others. The funding will scale up Envicore’s production of low-carbon supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), like mining tailings, slag, shale and glass. The company’s technology reportedly reduces the carbon footprint of cement production by up to 30%, using recycled mineral feedstock, with the SCMs replacing up to 35% of Portland cement in concrete. Proceeds will expand EnviCore's production capacity and support new business development, operations and research and development efforts. Heidelberg Materials, together with EnviCore, will conduct a feasibility study for a pilot SCM production facility close to one of Heidelberg Materials’ recycling hubs.

CEO and co-founder Shahrukh Shamim said "This investment marks a pivotal moment in our journey to commercialise a game-changing technology in the cement industry. The support from CSN, Heidelberg Materials and other investors will allow us to scale up quickly and meet the growing demand for greener building solutions."

India: Cement demand in India is projected to increase by 7 - 8% to approximately 475Mt in the 2025 financial year, down from a compound annual growth rate of about 11% between financial year (FY) 2022 and FY 2024, according to a report by CRISIL Ratings. The company analysed 18 cement producers, which account for over 85% of domestic sales volume. The forecast follows a 3% growth in demand during the first half of FY 2024, affected by an extended heatwave and a labour shortage during the general elections, the Financial Express has reported.

Director of research at CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics, Sehul Bhatt, said "Cement demand is expected to rebound in the second half of the 2024 financial year, as construction activity gathers pace across infrastructure and housing segments post-monsoon. Healthy monsoon, improved labour availability after the festive season, and an increase in government spending on infrastructure and housing should drive demand up 9 – 11% in the second half of the year, taking the annual growth tally to 7 – 8%."