Argentina: Loma Negra recorded sales of US$197m during the first quarter of 2023, up by 2.9% year-on-year from first-quarter 2022 levels. The company's earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 5.8% year-on-year to US$63m. Its net profit fell by 19% year-on-year to US$22.9m. Throughout the quarter under review, Loma Negra sold 1.54Mt of cement, up by 4.3% year-on-year.

Chief execuive officer Sergio Faifman said “We started the year in a very good shape, with solid operating result and cash flow generation, together with a very robust financial position. Despite the challenging macro scenario and the economic disorder in Argentina, cement demand remains strong, posting 3.1% growth in spite of the high base of comparison, and Loma Negra showed even higher growth figures." Faifman continued "We also completed our first issuance of corporate bonds with high success and with great support from the market, which demonstrates the confidence that investors place in our company. This gave us the possibility of refinancing our short-term debt in Argentinian Pesos and further strengthening our balance sheet. For the remainder of the year, we are cautiously optimistic that we will continue to see healthy dynamics in our markets, although at slower rates as we approach the presidential elections.”

Fiji: A court has ordered Pacific Cement, Tengy Cement and haulage contractor RPA Group to pay damages to Fiji Fish Marketing Group for creating a nuisance. The Fiji Times newspaper has reported that the court found that the cement importers emitted dust during the unloading of clinker, which caused Fiji Fish to incur a loss. The damages amounted to US$900,000.

New Zealand: Golden Bay Cement has signed a deal with Genesis Energy for a supply of bottom ash from Huntly power plant for use in cement production at its Portland cement plant in Northland. Genesis Energy generates 20,000t/yr of bottom ash at the Huntly plant, situated in Waikato, 260km south of the Portland cement plant. The plant currently uses 15,000t/yr of fly ash from the Huntly power plant in its operations. The producer was previously investigating the use of volcanic ash in cement production in 2022. It currently uses waste tyres and wood waste as alternative fuels (AF) to produce its EcoSure low-carbon general-purpose cement.

Golden Bay Cement's general manager Gian Raffainer said "We are driven to decarbonise and achieve 30% less carbon by 2030. Contributing to waste reduction at a large scale for the benefit of all New Zealanders is incredibly exciting. It is a win-win for the environment and for Kiwis who want to use more environmentally friendly products."

US: CalPortland and Martin Marietta Materials have cancelled a deal under which CalPortland was set to acquire the Tehachapi cement plant and other assets worth US$350m in Southern California. The US government's Federal Trade Commission (FTC) described the cancelled deal as 'presumptively illegal.'

FTC Bureau of Competition director Holly Vedova said “Following an in-depth investigation by FTC staff of the Mergers Division and Bureau of Economics, along with the California Attorney General’s Office, CalPortland and Martin Marietta have announced that they have abandoned their planned transaction. The transaction would have reduced the number of cement suppliers in Southern California from five to four, further concentrating an already concentrated market." Vedova concluded "The abandonment is a victory for consumers and preserves competition for a key component of Southern California’s construction and infrastructure industries."