Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s cement industry is facing rising costs due to supply chain disruptions amid the conflict in the Middle East. Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have reportedly increased freight and insurance costs, raising the price of imports, according to local press. Industry officials said that clinker and other raw material costs have increased due to around 90% of clinker being imported. Manufacturers are now resorting to sourcing clinker from China, Thailand and Vietnam at higher prices, instead of the ‘cheaper’ Gulf countries.

Mohammad Abul Mansur of Royal Cement said that transport costs have nearly doubled due to higher fuel prices and maritime risks. Despite these rising costs, manufacturers are unable to fully pass the burden on to consumers due to weak domestic demand.

Mohammad Amirul Haque, president of the Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association, said that the industry has faced ‘multiple shocks’ in recent years and many companies are continuing operations despite losses. He said that the current situation is not sustainable in the long term, and that a quick recovery in the market is unlikely.

Mexico: Mexico’s cement demand could grow by just over 2% in 2026, supported by federal housing and infrastructure projects, according to the CEO of the National Chamber of Cement (CANACEM) Julio Cedeño Fernández. The Housing for Wellbeing programme will target construction of 1.8m homes, creating a ‘significant’ demand for cement. Other infrastructure projects, whilst still in their early stages, may also drive the demand. The outlook follows a weak 2025 for construction activity, and uncertainty still persists, but the outlook for 2026 is expected to be more favourable.

Julio Cedeño Fernández said “We are coming off of a difficult year, but as an industry we have positive expectations. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement review creates uncertainty, but we are prepared. We hope that this year, with the boost from housing, the sector can recover or even grow further. We view the government’s plans with optimism, but they need to start being implemented.”

Türkiye: OYAK Cement has commissioned a 115MW solar power plant in Beypazarı, Ankara province. The plant has a 97.8MW connection capacity and is expected to generate 182GWh/yr of electricity. This follows the commissioning of a 9MW solar power plant at its facility in Mardin in southeastern Türkiye. It reportedly increases the share of renewables in the company’s energy use to 25%. The facility spans 150 hectares and includes 211,000 panels.

The company said the project is the largest self-consumption photovoltaic system for industrial production in Türkiye.

India: JK Cement has secured 70MW of solar powered electricity for its Nimbahera plant in Rajasthan through a partnership with Oriana Power, including an equity investment of US$446,000 into a project led by the supplier. JK Cement will purchase a 26% stake in a special purpose vehicle to deliver the project under a captive user model. The electricity will be supplied under a power purchase agreement.