Global Cement News

Switzerland/India: Engineering company ABB has secured an order worth US$18m in India to design, engineer and supply integrated automation and modern electrification systems for Century Cement's Manikgarh cement plant in central India.

ABB's delivery is part of a two-line expansion and plant modernisation project that will add production capacity of 2.8Mt/yr, more than doubling its current production capacity. The project also includes a 60MW thermal power plant onsite. providing a reliable on-site power supply that will improve energy efficiency. The turnkey project is scheduled to be completed by early 2014.

"Our proven experience in executing large and complex projects, minerals and cement industry expertise and leading automation and power technologies helped us to secure this important order," said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB's Process Automation division.

ABB will deliver integrated power and automation systems using a plant-wide 800xA automation system to control, connect and optimise the performance of all processes and systems. The scope of supply includes medium-voltage switchgear, distribution transformers and other electrical equipment and power systems, intelligent low-voltage motor control centres, variable speed drives, instrumentation and collaborative production management systems. ABB will also provide design, engineering, project commissioning and other site services.

India: India Cements has reported a 39% drop in net profit for the quarter ending 30 June 2012. Profit fell to US$11.2m from US$18.4m in the same quarter in 2011. However, the company earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 14%, to US$50.9m from US$40.1m.

The Chennai-based cement manufacturer's total income, which also includes revenue from Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings, rose by 13.5% to US$218m from US$192m. Total expenses increased by 13% to US$167m from US$147m, mainly due to higher fuel consumption and transportation costs.

"Our primary focus this quarter has been on maintaining the margins despite increases in rail fares, power tariff revision in our states of operation, increases in wages and a substantial depreciation of Rupee against the US Dollar pushing up prices of imported coal," commented N Srinivasan, vice chairman of India Cements. He also added that in the reported quarter the company has continued to work on infrastructure connecting its coalmines to ports in Indonesia.

Cement production stayed stable for the quarter at 2.35Mt in 2012 against 2.32Mt in 2011. Cement and clinker sales also reported little change, with 23.8Mt in 2012 reported against 23.1Mt in 2011.

South Africa: The South African National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) has cleared imports from Pakistan producer Lucky Cement for use in South Africa.

Thomas Madzivhe, the NRCS's acting chief executive, said that complaints of non-compliance received about Lucky Cement imported from Pakistan had been fully investigated and the NRCS was satisfied the certification bodies had done all the necessary checks and tests and that the cement complied with South Africa's regulations. Madzivhe said that the NRCS suspected market access and competitive and market share issues might be a reason for the complaints.

Musa Ndlovu, the NRCS's acting executive for non-perishable products, said a directive had immediately been issued against Lucky Cement when complaints of non-compliance were received at the end of 2010, which meant this cement could not be sold in South Africa. Ndlovu added that the NRCS had carried out a full 28-day test on the cement but the results did not provide it with any tangible evidence to prove the product was non-compliant in terms of quality. The NRCS had only found evidence once of non-compliance but this was based on under-weight bags and not quality.

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos has ordered 110 air cannons from Martin Engineering to aid material flow in two new plants currently nearing completion in Brazil. The two new plants are part of a massive US$988m investment by Votorantim. They are expected to produce approximately 8500t/day of clinker when they come online later in 2012.

110 Martin Hurricane Supreme Air Cannons are to be installed in the plants in Cuiabá and Rio Branco, covering preheater towers, additive silos and cyclones. Benefits of specifying the new technology for air cannon networks include reduced energy costs, improved system performance and increased uptime, with greater availability of compressed air for other processes within the plant.

Anyone need a spare cement plant? If so then it looks like India is the place to head to this week.

First, Italcementi denied that it was in talks with Jaiprakash Associates to buy one of their Jaypee Cement plants. Then, after much speculation, CRH announced publicly that it had entered negotiations to purchase an equity stake in Jaypee's entire cement business. In addition the Indian government has also revived a plan to sell six Cement Corporation of India (CCI) factories that have been closed for almost 10 years.

All of this raises a question: how much are Indian cement plants actually worth?

According to one source, Italcementi was thought to be offering US$100/t (installed capacity) in the bid it supposedly made but has denied making. Jaypee 'wanted' US$150/t. However analyst commentary with the CRH announcement suggested that Jaypee's asking price was too high! This is hardly surprising. Back in June 2012 when Jaiprakash announced that it was selling its plants it was reported that Holcim was offering up to US$160/t. Alongside the CCI story an analyst was quoted as putting the cost of Indian cement production capacity at US$110/t-US$120/t. Yet these plants have been shut for a decade.

Unlike in Europe, Indian cement industry profits have been rising in double digits in recent years. However, input costs like energy and transport are rising and they are starting to hit margins listed in quarterly reports. Serious additional costs have also arisen from the anti-cartel fines issued by the Competition Commission of India. Throw in questions on infrastructure raised by last week's nationwide power-cuts and Italcementi's (non)decision to stick to US$100/t seems prescient.

Unlike Italcementi however CRH has money to spend. Back in June 2012 it was reported that the company had Euro1.5bn to invest. With Euro250m gone in the first half of 2012 on so-called 'bolt-on' acquisitions that still leaves plenty in the pot to pick up the CCI plants. Now that would be a surprise.