Brazil: Data from SNIC, the Brazilian Cement Association, shows that cement sales increased by 1% year-on-year in August 2023 to reach 6Mt. From January to August 2023 however, Brazilian cement sales were once again lower year-on-year, falling by 1% to 41.7Mt.

Across Brazil, construction material sales have been impacted by lower disposable income due to inflation, high interest rates and high household debt. However, the New Growth Acceleration Program, a government initiative launched in August 2023, could be a boon for cement sector. It foresees spending of US$280bn between 2023 and 2026. For highways alone, 269 restoration and construction projects are planned and duplication of roads across the country, an investment that could open up opportunities for the use of more economical road solutions, such as rigid concrete pavement.

“The implementation of infrastructure projects with an emphasis on logistics, sanitation and housing could reverse the negative performance of the cement industry recorded until August 2023. Our expectation is that the positive seasonality in sales in the sector will be confirmed in the second half of the year,” said Paulo Camillo Penna, President of SNIC.

Pakistan: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has cleared four development projects worth US$528m that are likely to lead to increased cement demand. This includes the Coal Rail Connectivity Project to connect significant coal reserves in the Thar Coal Mines with the existing rail network, including last mile connectivity to the Port of Qasim, according to the Nation newspaper. The project, part of the government’s Pakistan Vision 2025 policy, has been designed to provide reliable and efficient railway infrastructure to ‘break the geographical barriers’ of accessing domestic coal for industrial use, including cement production, which is currently reliant on more expensive imported fuels.

Separately, funding has been approved for a road project to connect the N50 and N70 national highways, to serve as the main route to connect the Central Cities of Northern Balochistan to Southern Punjab. This is expected to raise cement demand in these areas.

US: Data released by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that total shipments of Portland and blended cement, including imports, in the US and Puerto Rico came to an estimated 10.5Mt in June 2023, a slight decrease compared to June 2022. Of the total volume of blended cement reported in June 2023, 4.7Mt (95%) was estimated to be portland-limestone cement (PLC).

For the first six months of 2023, shipments reached an estimated 51.0Mt, a slight decrease from those for the same period in 2022. The leading producing states in June 2023 were, in descending order: Texas; Missouri; California; Michigan; and Florida. These states accounted for 40% of cement produced. The leading cement-consuming states, again in descending order, were: Texas; California; Florida; Ohio; and Illinois. They jointly received 37% of all June 2023 shipments.

India: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to take necessary actions against what it says is illegal mining carried our without valid environmental clearance in the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.

The call followed an application by Devidas Khatri regarding alleged illegal mining by ACC Cement (now an Adani group company) without environmental clearance and without permission to do so within 10km of the national park and wildlife sanctuary, according to the Times of India newspaper. It was also submitted by Rohit Kumar Tuteja, counsel for the petitioner, that the company continued illegal mining for more than five years, but no action was taken by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board.