Canada: Supplementary cementitious materials developer Carbon Upcycling Technologies closed US$10m in new financing on 1 April 2026. The company says that it will use the funds for a 30,000t/yr commercial CO₂-to-cement project in Ontario.

UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has asked the Minister for Industry to delay the removal of a temporary €0.06/l discount on fuel and implement additional supportive measures for industry amidst the on-going Iran War. The association called for expanded access to the Energy Intensive Industries compensation scheme, a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, financial support for new home buyers, accelerated public infrastructure funding and new incentives for private construction spending, including a super-deduction and relief on employer national insurance contributions.

Executive Chair of the MPA Chris Leese said "Our sector has already endured a prolonged market downturn over the past four years, impacting jobs, investment and the resilience of this essential foundation industry. Obviously, the events in the Middle East are not going to help. Our policy requests from before the latest conflict are key to get the economy going; now we need to add measures to tackle the imminent spike in energy costs. We need to see a delay to the removal of the cut in fuel duty and support for energy-intensive industries, including cement. During a period of heightened global uncertainty, it is essential that Government provides clear and stable economic policy signals to help businesses plan investment and keep housing and infrastructure delivery on track."

Türkiye: Cement producers are confronting a ‘dual crisis’ of rising operating costs and ‘acute’ ship shortages, Platts has reported. Energy prices rose by 30% month-on-month in March 2026, while some freight rates rose even more sharply in the same period. Producers reliant on cost-insurance-freight contracts are particularly exposed. Resulting disruptions are reportedly preventing producers and exporters from benefitting from increased cement demand in key export markets.

Exporter Medcem Global’s trading and shipping director Ender Sahin told Platts "The freight on some routes has nearly doubled. It is becoming impossible to survive and continue the business."

Italy: Buzzi reported consolidated net sales of €4.52bn in 2025, up by 5% year-on-year compared to the previous year, with like-for-like growth of 0.5%. Recurring earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled €1.24bn in 2025, down by 3%. Cement and clinker sales increased to 31.9Mt in 2025 from 26.3Mt in 2024, representing a 21% increase, although on a like-for-like basis cement volumes were broadly stable compared to the previous year.

The company said that the global economy ‘demonstrated a solid capacity for resilience’ in 2025, despite trade tensions and geopolitical pressures. Growth in Europe, however, remained subdued due to weak domestic demand and limited investment. Germany exhibited particularly ‘fragile’ dynamics, whereas Italy recorded ‘modest but positive’ growth. The US economy continued to expand supported by domestic demand. Among the main emerging markets in which Buzzi operates, Brazil saw growth driven by domestic demand while Mexico recorded weak economic expansion, with ‘stagnant’ domestic demand and pressure on consumption. The UAE experienced strong growth supported by both the energy sector and non-oil sectors, particularly construction, tourism and financial services.

Looking ahead to 2026, Buzzi expects ‘broadly stable’ global growth supported by infrastructure investment and technology innovation, but warned that geopolitical tensions could increase operating costs. It said “In addition to the already known downside risks -among which geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts in various regions and uncertainties surrounding international trade – the recent developments in the Middle East introduce a further significant risk element compared to the macroeconomic and operating scenario initially envisaged for 2026. In particular, a likely increase in energy prices could have a material impact on the trend of our operating costs.”

In Italy, Buzzi said that residential construction is expected to decline according to the latest estimates, and it expects some slowdown in its sales volumes compared to the previous year. It said that pricing trends are also expected to be influenced by carbon costs linked to the EU emissions trading system (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and a possible revision of the ETS trading system in 2026.