Global Cement News

Iran: Cement and steel producers have been ordered to stop production for up to three weeks due to insufficient electricity supplies. A spokesman for the electricity industry said that the cut in supply was now necessary after heavy industrial customers had failed to observer a voluntary request, according to the Fars News Agency. Electricity supplies will be reduced to 10% of normal levels during the period.

Argentina: Data from the Asociación de Fabricantes de Cemento Portland (AFCP) shows that cement shipments grew by 44% year-on-year to 5.52Mt in the first half of 2021 from 3.83Mt in the same period in 2020. Local consumption of cement increased at a similar rate. The association has forecast the local market to grow by 15% year-on-year to 11.4Mt in 2021 from 9.87Mt in 2020.

US: Lhoist and Maerz Ofenbau have started up a lime kiln at the Montevallo plant in Alabama. The R4S type PFR kiln supplied by Switzerland-based Maerz Ofenbau has a nominal production rate of 600t/day of lime and is able to fire gas and coal.

Germany: Switzerland-based Holcim has agreed to acquire ready-mix concrete and aggregates producer Heinrich Teufel. The Strassburg, Baden-Württemberg-based company employs 160 people across its operations in southern Germany. No value for the purchase has been disclosed and the transaction will be subject to regulatory approval.

Europe, Middle East and Africa regional head Miljan Gutovic said "The acquisition of Heinrich Teufel will strengthen our footprint in southern Germany in aggregates and ready-mixed concrete. We were especially impressed by their shared commitment to advancing the circular economy. We look forward to warmly welcoming the Heinrich Teufel colleagues joining our team.”

Canada: Lafarge Canada has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with carbon utilisation company, Carbon Upcycling Technologies. The agreement allows for the potential integration of Carbon Upcycling’s CO₂-embedded concrete additive into Lafarge operations and will explore opportunities to expand Carbon Upcycling’s operating capacity by developing larger processing facilities.

Carbon Upcycling produces an additive that makes concrete both stronger and more sustainable with the ability to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete by up to 25% on a lifecycle basis. Carbon Upcycling’s involvement into construction materials began in 2018 through its participation in the LafargeHolcim Accelerator program, which aimed to accelerate the growth of innovations in the building materials industry.

The deal aligns with Lafarge's Net-Zero 2030 pledge to accelerate green construction and combat the climate change crisis with low carbon concrete and circular economy solutions, and Carbon Upcycling goal to reduce overall CO₂ emissions by 600Mt by 2030.