El Salvador: Cement imports in El Salvador have reached their highest level in three decades during the first half of 2026, according to local press, which cited the latest data from the Central Reserve Bank. The volume of purchases during this period reached 389,330t, an increase of 35% year-on-year, the largest volume recorded since 1994. China emerged as the leading supplier, representing 26% of the total, followed by Vietnam, Honduras and Guatemala.
Mexico: During Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum’s press conference on 19 August 2026, La Cruz Azul announced an investment of US$383m to ‘reactivate’ its cement plant in Hildalgo. The project is expected to restore production capacity to 3Mt/yr. The investment includes US$106m for renovation and reconditioning works, which are reportedly already underway, and US$217m for a new production line that has reached 85% completion, according to chair of the company’s board Victor Manuel Velázquez.
New Zealand: Fletcher Building Materials has published a net profit of US$135m for the financial year ending in June 2026. This is up by 154% from a net loss of -US$249m in the previous period from June 2024 to June 2025. After last year’s loss, it announced a reset aimed at cutting costs, simplifying its business and reducing debt. It sold its construction division and used the proceeds of the sale to ‘strengthen’ its balance sheet. CEO Andrew Reding said the company was ‘significantly more resilient’ than it was 12 months ago.
In July 2026, the company received US$35m from the government to support its operations amid overseas competition that did not face the same CO₂ emissions charges. Reding said that, without the support, the plant would have likely had to close and move to an import-only model from 2030. Golden Bay Cement is New Zealand’s only domestic cement plant, meaning that its closing would expose the country to global supply disruptions and potential high costs from imports.
Tanzania: The government has given cement producers eight days to reduce prices and improve the supply of cement following weeks of shortages. The directive was issued on 19 August 2026 after the Ministry of Industry and Trade summoned cement producers to an urgent meeting to address the issue. The shortages have been attributed to reduced production at cement plants due to maintenance issues, increased demand and higher costs across the distribution chain.
