Global Cement News

Vietnam: Vietcombank Securities Company (VCBS) has forecast a 16% year-on-year rise in Vietnam’s cement and clinker exports to 44.5Mt from 38.4Mt. 22.3Mt (50%) of the 2021 exports will be to China. Viet Nam News has reported that VCBS forecast a drop in Vietnam’s cement and clinker exports to China in 2022 due to a Chinese property market slowdown. From 2023, the Vietnam government plans to raise its clinker export tariff to 10% from 5%.

India: SCG International India has announced the launch of a joint venture with autoclaved aerated concrete block producer Bigbloc Construction. The joint venture will produce and sell lightweight concrete panels. It expects to commission a new 2.6Mm³/yr concrete panel plant in Gujarat in 2022. Bigbloc Construction holds the majority 52% stake in the venture.

India: A Telangana court has blocked Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana from disconnecting the power supply to some of Anjani Portland Cement’s cement operations in the state. The power supply is seeking to take the measure among other ‘coercive steps’ in an on-going dispute with the producer. Reuters News has reported that Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana has issued a demand letter for alleged breach of obligations by Anjani Portland Cement.

Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) plans to spend US$2bn towards meeting its CO₂ reduction target by 2030. The industrial group and cement producer intends to reduce its emissions by 20% by the end of the decade, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper. Chief executive officer Roongrote Rangsiyopash, said that the investment will be made from 2022 to 2030 and that it follows the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Thai government's bio, circular and green (BCG) economic model and environmental, social and governance standards (ESG). After 2030 the group has a net zero goal for 2050.

In cement production the SCG wants to increase its rate of alternative fuels such as biomass and refuse-derived fuel. It also wants to invest in carbon capture utilisation and storage, use electric vehicles and use artificial intelligence systems in energy management. The group plans to reduce coal usage at its cement plants in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia by 50% in 2022. It also plans to use more electricity generated by renewable energy for its factories.

Saudi Arabia: Yanbu Cement has completed an upgrade project to Line 4 at its integrated plant. It previously, in April 2021, reported delays to the work due to difficulty obtaining spare parts. The cement producer says that the cost of the project remains unchanged.