Vietnam: The Provincial Department of Trade and Industry (PDTI) of the northern province of Quang Ninh has announced a second-quarter cement production target of 879,000t in 2021. Viet Nam News has reported that the figure represents a significant increase as part of a local plan to increase gross regional domestic product (GRDP) by 10% in 2021. In the second quarter of the year, the PDTI is targeting US$2.1bn-worth of private investment in the provincial economy.

Tanzania: Tanzania Portland Cement has announced plans to invest a total of US$15.0m in modernising its 2.0Mt/yr-capacity Tanzania Portland Cement plant in 2021. The Tanzania Daily News newspaper has reported that the producer says its main challenge is cargo delays at the port of Dar es Salaam. This has caused concern for potential investors, according to the company. Senior commercial manager Danford Semwenda lobbied the government to help solve the problem.

US: A research team at Washington State University has developed admixtures using chitin derived from seashells. The Moscow-Pullman Daily News has reported that the substance enhances concrete’s performance when substituted for some of the cement content. The lower clinker factor may also decrease net emissions. Work has shown that lower volumes of the supplementary material are required compared to existing admixtures.

Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement’s cement sales in the first quarter of 2021 were US$11.3m, up by 22% year-on-year from US$9.27m in the first quarter of 2020. Volumes increased by 13% to 266,000t from 236,000t. The company said that it remained close to full capacity utilisation. It says that it increased its Kazakh cement market share to over 13%. The market grew by 12% year-on-year in total. The producer reported an 11% price rise and constant levels of tariffs and rental expenses.

Steppe Cement forecast an increase in domestic cement demand due to government infrastructure and housing projects.