India: The family of worker Rajaram Kushwaha has reported that he died after being taken to hospital for injuries sustained while working at a cement plant near Maihar, Maharashtra. The Free Press Journal newspaper has reported that Kushwaha’s family has requested that police lodge a freedom of information request of plant management into the circumstances of the ‘mysterious’ tragedy.

Ireland: Sabancı Holding subsidiary Çimsa Çimento has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire a 95% stake in Mannok. Reuters has reported the total enterprise value of Mannok as €330m. In determining the eventual purchase price, Çimsa Çimento says that it will make adjustments for any debt or related items. The deal marks the group’s entry into Ireland and the UK, where Mannok also distributes cement.

Mannok chair Adrian Barden said "Çimsa and the broader Sabancı group are a superb fit for Mannok as new long-term strategic owners, with excellent sustainability credentials and know-how. The group is steeped in cement manufacture and building products and, as a diverse conglomerate, it also has interests in retail and food, important sectors for our packaging business. We are very pleased that Sabancı has endorsed the Mannok brand and has agreed to back local management's plans to accelerate our sustainability and growth ambitions.”

Çimsa Çimento CEO Umut Zenar said "We believe this agreement marks the beginning of a new era for Mannok. At Çimsa, our model is to back great local businesses and management, and we look forward to creating new employment opportunities in the region as we support Mannok's continuing growth and sustainability ambitions. Given its border location, Mannok has unique access to UK and EU markets, and we see it as a key stepping stone in expanding our footprint in Western Europe. For Mannok staff, joining the Sabancı ecosystem will also present a world of opportunity for career development and progression and exposure to innovation in product development, sustainability and digitisation."

China: Anhui Conch Cement recorded a decline in its net profit of 49% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, Reuters has reported. The group’s Building Materials Industry business reported a 21% year-on-year decline in its sales to US$4.71bn. Its Cement business also recorded declining sales, by 23% to US$3.87bn.

Kenya: Savannah Clinker has offered to acquire Bamburi Cement outright for US$197m, 8% higher than an existing bid for the company of US$183m from Tanzania-based Amsons Industries. Business Daily News has reported that Savannah Clinker requires a minimum stake of 60% in order to finalise the deal. The company said that it could aim to complete the deal before March 2025.

Savannah Clinker owns an upcoming clinker plant and limestone mine in Kitui. Its owner Benson Sande Ndeta formerly held a majority of shares in Savannah Cement, which went into administration in mid-2023.