Global Cement News

Canada: The government has granted a subsidy worth US$20m to Svante for the establishment of a Centre for Excellence for Carbon Capture, Use and Storage in Vancouver, British Columbia. The centre will consist of a filter production plant, headquarters and testing centre. The company said that it will help in the global deployment carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions ‘at Gigatons scale.’

“Vancouver is the Silicon-Valley of carbon capture technology development,” said Claude Letourneau, the president and chief executive officer of Savante. “Lowering the capital cost of the capture of the CO₂ emitted in industrial production is critical to the world’s net-zero carbon goals.” He added “The carbon pulled from earth as fossil fuel needs to go back into the earth in safe CO₂ storage.”

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched a new investigation into imports of cement, currently subject to safeguarding tariffs of US$0.20/bag. The investigation follows a request by Cemex Philippines, Holcim Philippines and Republic Cement. The Viet Nam News newspaper has reported that the Vietnam National Cement Association has asked the DTI and the Philippine cement industry to consider whether imports from Vietnam did real damage. In 2020, Vietnam’s export cement prices fell by 15% year-on-year. Its excess production of cement was 36Mt during the year, and its clinker prices were 20% below the regional average.

Brazil: Cement sales totalled 31.5Mt in the first half of 2021, up by 16% year-on-year. The National Cement Industry Association (SNIC) attributed the growth to home renovations and new construction projects. The association has forecast total sales for 2021 of 64.2Mt, corresponding to an increase of 6% compared to 2020 levels. It expects the same segments to drive growth in 2022, though at a lower rate.

US: Colombia-based Cementos Argos subsidiary Argos USA’s Newberry, Florida cement plant produced 140,000t of cement in June 2021. The plant shipped 129,000t of cement. The company says that the production figure beats its previous production record of 128,000t in June 2019 by 9%. The figure for shipments beats the previous shipment record, also from June 2019, of 121,000t by 7%.

Plant production manager Daniel Ball said, “Everyone at the Newberry Plant is excited and proud to see these records being set. With the current sales climate, we are able to show the untapped potential Newberry has. This sustained sales commitment would not be possible if it wasn’t for all the hard work and dedication of everyone at the plant as well as from Argos plant support staff and Argos Corporate. But with the new record set, we strive to set new records going forward.”

Switzerland: Holcim has unveiled its new corporate brand identity as part of the change in group name from LafargeHolcim. The new group logo consists of a white letter H, for Holcim, on a two-tone green and blue backdrop. The group says that the new identity unites its market brands behind its purpose of ‘building progress.’ The change is intended to mark its transformation into a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions and signify its focus on developing green cities, smart infrastructure and improved standards of living globally.

Chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said, “Our world is changing in many ways, with population growth, urbanisation and the climate challenge. We are determined to play our part to accelerate low-carbon and circular construction so that we build a net-zero future and raise living standards for everyone. Our new group identity sends a signal to the world that we are fully committed to building progress for people and the planet.”

Lafarge and Holcim merged in 2015 becoming LafargeHolcim. LafargeHolcim’s shareholders later voted to change the company’s name to Holcim in May 2021.