Taiwan: Taiwan Cement’s revenue came to US$2.88bn in the first nine months of 2020, a year-on-year decrease of 6%. However, its operating income was US$800m, a 9% year-on-year increase compared to the first nine months of 2019. Its net income was US$640m, 4% higher than a year earlier.

“The fourth quarter is the traditional peak season for the cement market and we remain optimistic about our performance,” said Edward Huang, Senior Vice President and Spokesperson of Taiwan Cement.

Qatar: Qatar witnessed robust month-on-month cement production growth during September 2020 as the country scaled back its Covid-19 restrictions. Cement production increased by 9.1%. Cement was one of a number of sectors to buck a wider trend of a continued industrial slowdown, according to the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA). However, the volume of cement produced was 3.1% lower than in September 2019.

Sri Lanka: Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) has announced that it expects to sign an agreement to increase the production of OPC and other hydraulic cement products by 1Mt/yr. The investment will be made at its existing cement grinding plant in Trincomalee on the north east coast of Sri Lanka.

Tokyo Cement said that the project would cost approximately US$12m. Global Cement notes that this amount is fairly low for such a large increase in cement capacity and therefore may represent increases in cement handling capacity, rather than grinding capacity. Tokyo Cement said that it expects the project to be completed within 24 months.

Germany: Buzzi Unicem subsidiary Dyckerhoff has received general building inspection approval from the German Institute for Building Technology for the Portland composite cement CEM II / CM (S-LL) produced in the Amöneburg and Deuna factories. It is the first to receive approval to sell this class of cement, which contains both slag and limestone, in Germany.

The use of CEM II / C cements reduces CO₂ emissions from building with cement and concrete due to their lower clinker factor. CEM II / CM (S-LL) emits 39% less CO₂ per tonne of cement compared to CEM I cement. Compared to the current status quo of the binder mix, CEM II / C cements have the potential to reduce CO₂ intensity by 25%.

The CEM II / CM (S-LL) ‘Amöneburg’ and ‘Deuna’ is authorised for use in strength classes 32.5 N, 32.5 R, 42.5 N, 42.5 R, 52.5 N and 52.5 R. It may be used for the production of concrete, reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete in the following exposure classes: X0, XC1 to XC4, XD1 to XD3, XS1 to XS3, XF1, XA1 to XA3, XM1 to XM3.