Paraguay: Industria Nacional del Cemento (INC) has targeted 0.6Mt production of cement in 2026. Company president Gerardo Guerrero Agusti told La Nación newspaper that the organisation had a strong start to the year in January 2026. It is also aiming produce 0.58Mt of clinker in the coming year. Cement production increased by 8% year-on-year to 0.58Mt in 2025 from 0.53Mt in 2024. INC plans to upgrade a separator at its grinding plant in 2026 to increase production.

Mexico: Cemex has issued a press release regarding its fourth quarter and full-year results for 2025, although it has not yet released full figures. It said that, for the full year, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 1%, supported by its Project Cutting Edge savings programme. It reported that its fourth-quarter net income was impacted by goodwill and asset impairments, while full-year net income increased by 2%. Adjusting for these impairments, net income would have increased by 41% to US$1.5bn for the whole year.

With momentum building in the second half of the year, supported by a recovery in Mexico and ‘solid performance’ in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, fourth-quarter net sales and EBITDA increased at a double-digit rate. Full-year EBITDA margin remained stable with a significant expansion in the second half of 2025. All regions reported relatively flat-to-improved EBITDA margins in 2025.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished so far and expect even better results in 2026, supported by our transformation plan, improved market demand and operating leverage available to us in most markets,” said Jaime Muguiro, CEO of Cemex. “I want to recognise our teams across the organisation. 2025 was a demanding year, with the introduction of our transformation plan, and required discipline, resilience and a strong execution mindset.”

In Mexico, fourth-quarter results strengthened, with year-over-year sales and EBITDA growth, margin expansion and continued recovery in demand conditions. The US delivered record fourth-quarter EBITDA and higher margins, supported by operating efficiencies and Project Cutting Edge. Europe, the Middle East and Africa reported solid full-year performance, led by higher volumes, pricing and cost efficiencies, while South, Central America and the Caribbean achieved a third consecutive year of EBITDA growth, despite fourth-quarter weather disruptions.

Cemex also reported that its consolidated gross CO₂ emissions declined by 2% year-on-year, primarily driven by further reductions in its clinker factor. Cemex’s operations in Europe reached the Cement Europe association’s 2030 gross CO₂ emissions reduction target five years ahead of schedule, while operations in Mexico and South, Central America and the Caribbean profitably achieved record low clinker factor levels during the year.

Denmark: Aalborg Portland has officially submitted a bid for the Danish CCS pool. The project aims to capture up to 1.4Mt/yr of CO₂. Approximately a further 100,000t will be displaced through secondary effects, including the use of excess heat from the capture process for a district heating scheme in Aalborg. If accepted, the project is expected to be commissioned as early as 2030. The results of the latest bidding round are expected to be announced in April 2026.

Aalborg Portland’s CO₂ capture project, named ACCSION (Aalborg Portland Carbon Capture & Storage using Infrastructure Onshore in North Jutland) has been established in collaboration with Air Liquide.

Søren Holm Christensen, the CEO of Aalborg Portland’s said “This is not just about Aalborg Portland and Denmark’s climate goals. It is about showing the rest of Europe that the transition of heavy industry is possible while maintaining European competitiveness, security of supply, and jobs.”

Germany: The Verband Deutscher Maschinen und Anlagenbau (VDMA), which represents 3000 mainly small and medium-sized engineering companies in Germany and elsewhere in Europe has stated that the construction equipment industry is starting 2026 with a ‘mixed picture.’ In a press release it said that, even though the figures are ‘more positive than in previous years,’ the industry continues to face a ‘difficult’ political and economic environment.

The VDMA reported that, while order intake picked up noticeably towards the end of the 2025 and was up by 18% overall in 2025 compared to 2024, the industry recorded a 1% price-adjusted decline year-on-year.

Construction equipment suppliers expect nominal sales growth of 5% for 2026. However, this only represents a moderate recovery after a decline of 21% in 2024 (compared to 2023) and a little year-on-year change in 2025.

At the annual meeting of the specialist group VDMA Construction Equipment on 30 January 2026 in Frankfurt, the mood was reportedly optimistic. Orders in public construction are picking up thanks to €500bn in infrastructure investments, but the current political and economic situation is causing noticeable uncertainty. The dominant issues continue to be what members perceive as overregulation in Europe and unfair competition. Pressure is growing due to uncontrolled cheap imports from China, which are increasing due to significant local overcapacity. The unpredictability of the US administration and the massive expansion of steel tariffs in the US are also causing concern. European construction equipment exports to the US fell by nearly 30% in 2025.