Europe: Ireland CRH announced the completion of its divestment of its lime operations in the Czech Republic, Germany and Ireland on 4 January 2024. The deal marks the first phase of the group’s divestment of its entire European lime business, for US$1.1bn.

Pakistan: Cement producers despatched 23.9Mt of cement during the first half of the 2024 financial year (1 July – 31 December 2023), up by 9.7% year-on-year from 21.8Mt in the first half of the previous financial year. The Nation newspaper has reported that exports more than doubled, to 3.65Mt from 1.73Mt.

The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) expressed its concern over slow domestic sales. The association said “We are very hopeful that the government will speed up PSDP projects in order to increase cement demand and also give attention to our operational problems. Two major issues currently being faced by the cement industry are related to the new Axle Load regime and Track and Trace system. We have approached the concerned functionaries and expect to get a positive response.”

Germany: Switzerland-based CO₂ mineralisation technology developer Neustark says that it sees major potential for recycling concrete from construction and demolition waste (CDW) to produce carbon-negative products using its process in Germany. Neustark inaugurated its first German plant, and 12th overall, at Marzahn in Berlin in late 2023. Capital Online News has reported that the start-up estimates that Germany generates 60Mt/yr of CDW concrete, but only recycles 600,000t/yr (1%). This contrasts with international CDW concrete recycling rates as high as 15% in Switzerland and the US.

The start-up, founded at the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich in 2019, currently absorbs 10kg/t of CO₂ in its recycled materials, but aims to reach 60kg/t. Its investors include Holcim.

South Africa: China-based Huaxin Cement completed its acquisition of Brazil-based InterCement’s South African business on 27 December 2023. MarketScreener News has reported that financial services firm JPMorgan Chase acted as advisor to InterCement. The deal concludes the Brazilian company’s exit from Africa, after it sold its Egyptian and Mozambique businesses earlier in 2023.