UK: James Hardie has launched its new 11mm Hardie Panel fibre cement panel in the UK market. The producer says that the panel brings extra robustness in addition to the performance benefits of its existing 8mm Hardie Panel. It added that 11mm Hardie Panel is 50% cheaper than comparable products on the market.

India: The government’s Income Tax Department fined Shree Cement US$481m on 5 January 2024. The fine is for the company’s use of falsified bills in relation to a non-existent waste management plant to claim US$1.02bn-worth of tax deductions between April 2014 and March 2023.

The Economic Times newspaper, breaking the story, reported that neither Shree Cement nor the Income Tax Department has yet issued a statement.

Zimbabwe: Labenmon Investments and China-based West International Holding have partnered for the construction of the planned US$1bn Magunje cement plant in Mashonaland West. The plant will have an integrated capacity of 900,000t/yr, and additional clinker capacity of 1.8Mt/yr. The Zimbabwe Mail newspaper has reported that it will also be equipped with 100MW captive power plant. Construction of a building materials production complex in neighbouring Karoi will commence in parallel with the Magunje cement plant project. Construction of the Magunje plant will generate 5000 jobs in the local area, according to West International Holding. The partners expect the plant, when operational, to help to close a local supply gap.

UAE: India-based UltraTech Cement has issued a guarantee of US$147m in favour of the Singapore branch of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Reuters has reported that the guarantee is for a credit facility in favour of the producer’s UAE subsidiary UltraTech Cement Middle East Investments.

UltraTech Cement Middle East Investments obtained a majority stake in Duqm Cement in Oman in 2023.