Azerbaijan: Norm OJSC has completed a major project to expand clinker production capacity at its Norm cement plant. As a result, the plant’s clinker capacity has increased by 0.24Mt/yr, from 1.76Mt/yr to 2Mt/yr. The project was implemented with the participation of international partners, including China’s BTIEC and Germany-based equipment suppliers Gebr. Pfeiffer and Claudius Peters.

Henning Sasse, CEO of Norm OJSC, said “We decided to increase the plant’s production capacity, considering the expanding infrastructure needs and export opportunities of the country and the region. Increasing the clinker production capacity of the Norm Cement plant was an important step for us, both to meet domestic demand and to expand clinker export opportunities to foreign markets. This initiative will strengthen Azerbaijan’s industrial potential by ensuring that demand for cement and clinker within the country is fully met by local production over the next 15-20 years.”

Alongside the capacity expansion, the company has reduced the clinker ratio in cement production by 5% since 2024. This has allowed around 85,000t of clinker to be redirected into additional cement production, improving overall efficiency without increasing clinker output.

France: Holcim has taken a minority equity stake in BW Ideol as part of a strategic partnership to scale up clean energy infrastructure for floating offshore wind. Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate on the supply of construction materials to two fabrication lines for floating wind foundations being developed by BW Ideol in southern France and northeast Scotland. Holcim will contribute its low-carbon structural concrete, which it says is ‘ideal’ for offshore wind applications and produced under a local-for-local approach.

Holcim has previously supplied foundations for onshore wind projects in Australia, Croatia, Denmark, Poland, Spain and the UK, as well as offshore wind foundations along France’s northern coastline.

Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Cement expects to fully rely on natural gas as a substitute for liquid fuel in its operations from the beginning of 2027, according to CEO Shoeil Al-Ayed. The company previously announced that it had signed a US$15.8m contract with Chengdu Design & Research Institute as part of its liquid fuel displacement programme. Riyadh Cement said the contractor has already taken over the site, begun implementation and received the advance payment in line with agreed terms.

Al-Ayed said “The cement sector during the third quarter of 2025 faced some challenges represented in high clinker inventory levels for most companies, which reflected an increase in supply exceeding the actual demand in the market.”

He added that the market had been subject to increasing pressures that led to a noticeable decline in selling costs, which had negatively impacted the profitability levels of cement companies during that period. It was also communicated that the shift to natural gas would be implemented in a single step rather than through a phased transition. The expected cost savings will reportedly depend on the gas price applied at the time, with no official accounting price yet communicated.

India: Beumer Group has officially inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Jhajjar, Haryana, following an investment of US$22m aimed at strengthening its global production capabilities and long-term presence in the region. The new plant occupies a land parcel of 42,508m², with a built-up manufacturing area of 22,285m². Construction was completed in around 15 months, from the laying of the foundation stone in June 2024 to the start of operations in December 2025.

Beumer said the facility will enhance its ability to serve customers both in India and internationally, supporting its strategy of expanding manufacturing capacity closer to key growth markets while reinforcing its regional supply chain.