Portugal: Cimpor has now deployed private 5G networks at its Alhandra, Loulé and Souselas cement plants through a partnership with Vodafone Portugal and Ericsson. The move equips each site with reliable, low-latency connectivity designed to support connected systems such as IoT sensors and autonomous vehicles for improved efficiency and safety. The producer previously signed the 10-year extendable contract with Vodafone in October 2024.

The technology supports applications such as drone inspections, smart and VR glasses for remote assistance and training, sensors for predictive maintenance, video cameras for safety monitoring, real-time data management via worker tablets and AI functionalities. Cimpor expects to save up to US$1m/yr per plant by reducing unplanned failures and production interruptions. It said it has observed an approximate efficiency increase of around 1%, equivalent to US$10-15m in annual economic benefits.

Peru: National cement shipments reached 1.17Mt in November 2025, an increase of 11% compared to November 2024 and 6% higher over the 12-month period, according to ASOCEM. Cement production reached 1.08Mt in November 2025, up by 13% year-on-year, while clinker output rose by 25% year-on-year to 0.77Mt. However, accumulated clinker production over the past 12 months was down by 2%.

Cement exports fell slightly to 12,700t, a 3% decrease compared to November 2024, but grew by 7% over the accumulated 12 months. In contrast, clinker exports increased by 52% to 109,200t in November 2025, bringing the 12-month increase to 29%. Cement imports dropped by 88% year-on-year to 8100t in November 2025, despite an 80% rise over the past 12 months. Clinker imports also fell by 40% year-on-year to 84,800t in November 2025, though they remain 38% higher in the yearly comparison. All clinker imports entered through the Port of Callao, sourced from South Korea (50%) and Ecuador (50%).

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies said that it achieved record production volumes of its low-carbon cement in 2025. The company produced 50,700t of its 0% clinker cement, representing a threefold increase from the 16,269t produced in 2024. The company has set its sights on doubling this output in 2026, targeting 100,000t. This increase will be driven by a growing customer base and access to new construction projects, supported by recent certifications obtained in France and internationally.

Martinique: The introduction of the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism on imported materials has been ‘met with disapproval’ in the French West Indies, particularly within the construction sector, according to local press. From 1 January 2026, the measure applies to imports from outside the EU, targeting goods such as aluminum, steel and clinker.

Martinique has no clinker production capacity, and imported over 120,000t of the material in 2025.

Laurent Nesty, sales director of Ciments Antillais (part of the Lafarge Holcim group), said the tax will increase the price of concrete by 7 - 8%, and the price of cement by 11%. “It is completely impossible to absorb this increase, since the amount we will have to pay by 2034 will be greater than our turnover. Therefore, we have an obligation to pass on this amount," he said. Nesty added that there are currently no viable European or local alternatives to imported clinker, with imports coming from countries such as Mexico and Algeria.