Germany: The German government published its new carbon management strategy and draft carbon storage law (KSpG) on 26 February 2024. The KSpG revises understandings of carbon neutrality to include CO₂ savings made through carbon capture and storage (CCS). The government says that the legislation primarily aims to support hard-to-abate sectors like cement, while coal-fired power plants will be barred from future CO₂ pipeline access. Heidelberg Materials CEO Dominik von Achten was alongside politicians at the strategy launch. The producer’s Brevik cement plant in Norway is set to become carbon neutral through the capture and storage of 400,000t/yr of CO₂.

German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck said "Achieving our climate targets without CCS is impossible."

Switzerland: Holcim recorded a 7.5% drop in sales to US$30.6bn in 2023, ‘largely’ due to its divestment of its cement businesses in India and Brazil. On a like-for-like basis, its sales rose by 6.1%. The group’s earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) rose by 0.2% to US$5.4bn, but by 15% like-for-like. It attributed this both to price rises and cost-saving measures in its cement and concrete operations. Net profit fell by 7.5% to €3.47bn, including a €1.7bn special gain from its Indian divestment. Holcim says that it implemented its Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth two years ahead of schedule.

Austria: RHI Magnesita reported 7.7% year-on-year growth in its sales from €3.32bn to €3.57bn in 2023. Its gross profit rose by 12% from €763m to €857m, while its earnings before interest, taxation and amortisation (EBITA) rose by 1.6% from €372m to €378m.

Australia: Adbri reported 13% year-on-year growth in sales to US$1.25bn in 2023, up from US$1.1bn in 2022. The company's earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) also rose, by 5.2% to US$193m. The year marked the successful launch of its EcoCem and Futurecrete reduced-CO₂ cement and concrete ranges. At the end of the year, Adbri’s ongoing US$255 – 277m upgrade to its Kwinana grinding plant was 70% complete.

Deputy chair Samantha Hogg and CEO Mark Irwin said “In 2023 we took significant steps to refocus and reshape our organisation to support a more resilient Adbri and to invest in our future. Our focus on best‑in-class customer solutions and margin recovery has supported a strong full-year financial result.”