Global Cement News

China: CNBM’s revenue rose by 0.5% year-on-year to US$38.9bn in 2020 from US$38.7bn in 2019. Its profit for the year grew by 17% to US$3.30bn from US$2.81bn. However, its cement sales revenue fell by 3% to US$19.5bn from US$20.0bn and its concrete sales fell slightly to US$7.80bn. Cement-based earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell slightly to US$5.73bn and concrete-based EBITDA rose by 53% to US$794m. Both cement and concrete sales volumes grew slightly to 340Mt and 112Mm³ respectively. Overall group revenue rose due to sales by the group’s new materials and engineering divisions. The share of its overseas revenue fell to 2% in 2020 from 13% in 2019 due to declines in most regions with the exception of the Americas and Oceania.

“2020 was an extraordinary year, faced with severe and complicated domestic and international environment, especially the serious impact from Covid-19,” said Cao Jianglin, chairman of CNBM. He added, “The foundation of economic recovery in China is not yet solid, and the task of industry transformation and upgrading is arduous.” The company plans to continue implementing supply side structural supply reforms and work towards government CO₂ emission peak targets and carbon neutrality plans.

Indonesia: Semen Indonesia has detailed its plans for future exports of cement to North America. The Investor Daily newspaper has reported that the producer and subsidiary Solusi Bangun Indonesia will target 0.5 – 1Mt of cement exports to North America in 2021, according to president director Hendi Santoso. The export plans will be carried out in partnership with Japan-based Taiheiyo Cement, which already has a US market presence and owns a 15% stake in Solusi Bangun Indonesia. Hendi said that the move aims to ‘cushion’ the decline in domestic cement sales, down by 28% bulk and 13% bagged year-on-year in 2020. The company successfully exported cement to Australia, Bangladesh, China, Fiji and Sri Lanka in 2020.

President commissioner Rudi Antara said, "The Covid-19 outbreak still colours our lives. There is no other choice but to increase business efficiency and the top line outside of our main markets."

India: Prism Cement has established a 12MW waste heat recovery (WHR) plant and 10MW solar power plant at its 6.1Mt/yr-capacity integrated Prism cement plant in Satna, Madhya Pradesh. The plant’s total WHR capacity now totals 22MW, with a total of 23MW solar power capacity. The measures are part of the producer’s sustainability initiatives, by which it aims to reduce its reliance on non-renewables.

France: Hoffmann Green Cement’s consolidated net revenue fell by 19% year-on-year to Euro504,000 in 2020 from Euro620,000 in 2019. Net loss was Euro6.12m, up by 41% from Euro4.34m. Loss in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) more than doubled to Euro4.13m from Euro1.85m. During the year, the group began construction of its second cement plant, in Vendée, France.

Co-chairs Julien Blanchard and David Hoffman said, “We are happy with what we achieved at Hoffmann Green in 2020, in spite of the pandemic. We signed numerous technical and commercial collaboration contracts with key players in the construction sector such as Groupe GCC, KP1, Cemex and Eiffage Génie Civil, taking our order book to over 190,000t to date.” They reconfirmed the target of a 3% French cement market share by 2025/2026, adding, “The commercial dynamic continues at the beginning of 2021 with the signing of contracts with Ouest Réalisations for the construction of housing, and EdyCem to develop low carbon footprint concretes.”

Blanchard and Hoffmann called 2020 ‘the year of increasing production volumes,’ adding that the group expects on-going and future environmental legislation in all its regions to bolster demand.

US: The California Nevada Cement Association (CNCA) has published a plan for the Californian cement industry to meet its target of carbon neutrality by 2045. The plan consists of three pathways, namely: a reduction in process emissions including by alterations to clinker factor and type of additives; an increase in alternative fuel (AF) substitution; and a switch to renewable energy. The association said that the aims are achievable by close stakeholder coordination, constructive public policy engagement and a situational approach based on a flexible portfolio of pathways.