Cambodia: The Cambodian Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation Hem Vanndy visited Cambodia Cement’s Chakrey Ting plant in Kampot province on 4 May 2026. The plant is part of the Huaxin Industrial Park, and the minister encouraged Huaxin to expand investment and ‘explore new opportunities’ in Cambodia. He also encouraged company to advance research and development and expand into new construction materials, particularly those with high import demand, such as tiles and marble.

The minister said "Material science is critical to industrial development. We encourage Huaxin to work with the National Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation (NISTI) to invest in research and development, including waste management and innovative reuse of materials.”

Ke Hongwei, managing director of the park, said that the company reinvested in the plant in 2021 to modernise the facility and expand its operations.

Spain: Engineering and manufacturing firm Kemex-Ingesoa marked its 40th anniversary on 25 April 2026 and unveiled a new corporate logo at its headquarters in San Sebastián. The company said that the milestone reflects four decades of growth and transformation, supported by its integration within Vidmar Group and focus on future development and innovation. Kemex was bought in 2022 by Ingesoa, a historical competitor and materials handling equipment supplier.  

Pakistan: Cement despatches reached 3.89Mt in April 2026, rising by 11% year-on-year, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association. Domestic despatches increased by 20% to 3.22Mt during the month, while exports fell by 18% to 0.67Mt. In the first 10 months of the current financial year, total despatches rose by 10% to 42.4Mt, with domestic volumes up by 11% to 34.8Mt and exports up by 3% to 7.61Mt.

The figures surpass projections made in April 2026, based on data from the first 19 days of April 2026. The projection expected domestic despatches to increase by 10% year-on-year to 2.94Mt. Total cement despatches were projected to be around 3.61Mt. In the period covering the first 10 months of the fiscal year 2026, total cement despatches were anticipated to reach 42.1Mt.

South Africa: Heidelberg Materials has reportedly entered talks with banks to appoint advisers, as it considers a potential acquisition of cement producer PPC, according to Engineering News. The company is assessing a full takeover of the South African cement producer as part of plans to expand its presence in Africa. However, Heidelberg Materials reportedly declined to comment and discussions are at an early stage. PPC is valued at US$560m and operates in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.