Italy: Cementir Holding has been achieved its first CDP A- rating for climate change mitigation in its operations. The producer said that the global average rating is B-, compared to B in Europe and in the cement and concrete industry globally. CDP awarded Cementir a B for water security, its first such rating in the category.

Chair and chief executive officer Francesco Caltagirone said “This achievement is a further recognition of our efforts to make our carbon footprint more sustainable. We are committed to tackling climate change and minimising our environmental impact.”

Iran: Ghadir Investment Cement Holding launched its initial public offering (IPO) on 11 December 2021. The Financial Tribune newspaper has reported that the company will seek to sell 5% of its shares. It expects to generate around US$8m from the IPO.

US: LafargeHolcim has acquired Marshall Concrete Products. The newly acquired subsidiary supplies concrete products and services in the Minneapolis/St Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota.

Chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said “This acquisition is another step in our Strategy 2025 to become the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions. We welcome the employees of Marshall Concrete Products and look forward to building on their strong customer service focus, which made them a partner of choice in the Twin Cities area for decades. This acquisition strengthens our presence in this strong growth market while contributing to Holcim’s overall strategy to expand our range of low-carbon products and solutions.”

India: Ratings agency Crisil has forecast 11 – 13% year-on-year growth of cement sales volumes in the 2021 financial year. The Press Trust of India has reported that the agency predicted that high demand and increased fuel costs would precipitate a rise in cement prices to record levels before April 2022.

In December 2021, petcoke prices rose by 80% year-on-year, while the price of imported coal had more than doubled. This has increased cement producers’ costs by 40%.