Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement has recorded a consolidated profit after tax of US$4.1m in the first half of 2020, down by 24% year-on-year from US$3.1m in the first half of 2019. Sales volumes declined by 2% to 765,000t from 780,000t. The company says that it maintained its 2019 prices until the end of the first quarter of 2020, when reduced demand due to the coronavirus lockdown caused a fall. Production costs declined by 4% over the entire period.

China: Conch Group has announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Shanghai Jiaotong University for the establishment of a technology centre called the Intelligent Equipment Joint Research and Development Centre.

General manager He Chengfa said, “This centre established in cooperation with Shanghai Jiao Tong University is an important carrier for the group's innovation and development. Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a first-class domestic and internationally renowned comprehensive university with strong scientific research capabilities and a complete talent training system. It is hoped that Shanghai Jiaotong University will educate Conch Group's future scientific research team, enhance Conch Group's innovation level and provide assistance for the Conch Group to become a world-class enterprise with global competitiveness.”

UK: CRH subsidiary Tarmac has announced its renewal of multiple contracts for transportation of its products by rail, effective until 2025. The contracts - with Colas Rail UK, GB Rail Freight, Freightliner and DB Cargo - cover the shipment of 9.0Mt/yr of cement and building products.

Head of rail Chris Swan said, “The renewal of these contracts highlights both our on-going commitment to supporting the delivery of a lower-carbon built environment and the continued enhancement of our rail freight capabilities. Effective use of the rail freight network is key in supporting the UK’s transition to a net-zero society and supporting a green recovery as we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis. Collaborative working has a vital role to play in this and we are looking forward to working with our freight operating partners as the industry focuses on increasing the volumes of material moved by rail, as well as enhancing efficiencies and service.”

Spain: LafargeHolcim subsidiary Holcim España has announced the launch of the Carbon Challenge, a think tank to promote CO₂ emissions research and reduction. The company says that the plan involves “the formation of various working groups in areas such as reducing process emissions, reducing the emission factor for fuels and changing cement content of concrete and investigating alternative additives.” This is part of its Ecological Transition strategy, in addition to its Euro20m carbon footprint reduction investments announced on 31 December 2019.

Sustainability and Health director Raúl Pérez said, “We have high expectations for this project. It is a laboratory of ideas that will allow us to add and share knowledge that materialises in concrete initiatives applied to our processes, products and solutions, all with a common denominator: anticipating the new European decarbonisation scenario with an established plan to be carbon neutral by 2050.”