Myanmar: Thailand-based Siam Cement Group (SCG) and Pacific Link Cement Industries (PLCI) joint-venture Mawlamyine Cement has suspended production at its integrated cement plant in Kyaikmayaw, Mon State amidst a dispute between its owners. SCG says it has resorted to arbitration to resolve the matter and that PLCA has filed a lawsuit against it. In a statement SCG said that, “MCL continues to work with distributors and customers to alleviate the supply shortage due to the temporary suspension.”

France: Milling and process equipment supplier Fives has acquired Dufieux, a “high-tech machine-tool designer and manufacturer” and developer of the Milling Mirror System (MMS). The company says that Dufieux’s activities complement Fives’ machine-tool offerings for the cement and general industry markets, which are sold through the Forest-Liné, Liné Machines, Giddings & Lewis and Cincinnati ranges. No amount for the acquisition has been disclosed.

High-precision machines division president Raphaël Constantin said, “Despite a difficult situation, we are continuing our efforts to develop effective, innovative and more environmentally friendly solutions which are better suited to future production requirements. Dufieux’s offering supplements our range of high-performance machine-tools, which already includes an unrivalled portfolio of technologies. This will also strengthen our capacity for innovation and industrial flexibility.”

Cameroon: Cimencam has donated 2000 Covid-19 test kits, 15 respirators and 10 reanimation beds to the Ministry of Public Health to help in its fight against the Covid-19 outbreak. The Journal du Cameroun newspaper has reported that chair Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo formally handed over the supplies, worth US$179,000, to Minister of Public Health André Mama Fouda at a ceremony in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde.

Mexico: Cemex’s net sales in the first nine months of 2020 were US$9.43bn, down by 4% year-on-year from US$9.87bn in the corresponding period of 2019. Operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was US$1.82bn, in line with the first nine months of 2019. Cement volumes fell by 2% to 46.2Mt from 47.2Mt. The group said that sales volumes increased in most regions in the third quarter of 2020 as economies began to reopen following the Covid-19 lockdown.

Fernando A González, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cemex said, “We are pleased with our performance in the third quarter in which all regions participated in earnings recovery. Indeed, during the quarter, we experienced EBITDA recovery from the second quarter decline, due to Covid-19, as well as strong year-over-year growth. Operation Resilience played a key role in this performance.”