Japan: Taiheiyo Cement reported sales of US$5.7bn in the 2026 financial year, ending 31 March 2026. Operating profit fell by 4% year-on-year to US$472m and net profit dropped by 56% to US$161m. The company said that the decline was due to impairment losses at Taiheiyo Cement Philippines. Domestic cement demand in Japan fell by 7% year-on-year to 30.5Mt, and the group’s domestic cement sales volumes declined by 9% to 11.9Mt. Cement exports increased by 10% to 3.32Mt. It said that demand was supported by countermeasure construction for ‘national resilience’, projects related to defence and urban development and construction related to the Linear Chuo Shinkansen. However, demand was impacted by ‘soaring’ construction costs, a decrease of shipments on Saturdays due to the spread of the five-day working week at construction sites, and a ‘chronic’ shortage of workers.

The company said that the Japanese economy, while showing some impact from US trade policies, maintained a gradual recovery trend throughout the year, supported by solid public investment and a rebound in customer spending. However, rising geopolitical risks, such as the escalating situation in the Middle East, created ‘uncertainty’ about the outlook of the economy.

India: IKN has commissioned a 6000t/day clinker cooler at Vicat Group subsidiary Bharathi Cement’s Kadapa plant, replacing an existing walking floor cooler. The company said that commissioning expert Dhuwarakesh Ragavan is assisting with start-up and finetuning. IKN said that the new clinker cooling system will increase operational reliability, cooling efficiency and support sustainable plant performance.

Brazil: CSN reportedly received non-binding offers for its cement division on 7 May 2026, according to Reuters, as part of its plans to reduce debt. The company has appointed Morgan Stanley to advise on the sale process. The business is reportedly valued at more than US$2bn. The identities of the bidders were not disclosed, but companies that have shown interest include Anhui Conch Cement, Huaxin Cement, Sinoma and Votorantim Cimentos. CSN chief financial offer Marco Rabello told Reuters that a binding phase would start shortly after the receipt of non-binding offers and the selection of groups moving to the next phase.

Zimbabwe: Dinson Industrial Group will invest US$15m in a cement grinding plant in Manhize, Midlands province, with a capacity of more than 0.3Mt/yr, according to The Sunday Mail. The company said that production will start by mid-2027 and will create around 150 jobs. The group already operates Dinson Iron and Steel in Manhize, and the move into cement production is reportedly part of the company’s strategy to leverage by-products from its steel operations.

Projects director at Dinson Wilfred Motsi said “We are extending our tentacles into cement production because through the steelworks project, we generate slag as a raw material. The development of the cement plant is therefore a direct response to the government’s call for beneficiation and industrialisation.”

The project will source limestone from areas such as Lalapanzi and Masvingo. Zimbabwe’s cement industry is currently experiencing rising demand, driven by large-scale infrastructure projects, mining expansion and increased private housing construction. However, local production capacity has reportedly struggled to keep pace with demand, so the entry of new players is expected to ease supply constraints and stabilise prices. using slag from its steel operations alongside limestone sourced locally. Zimbabwe currently imports 35,000t-45,000t/month of cement to meet demand of around 1.8Mt/yr.