Malaysia: Cahya Mata Sarawak recorded a profit of US$8.72m in the first half of 2020, down by 63% year-on-year from US$23.4m in the first half of 2019. Total sales declined by 40% to US$117m from US$196m. Cement sales also declined, by 31% to US$46.8m from US$68.1m. The company attributed this to the impacts of the coronavirus lockdown.

North Korea: The state-run KCNA news agency has announced that cement, iron and steel and timber production units throughout North Korea are ‘pushing forward’ with production to supply building materials to flood-ravaged areas, including in Unpha County (North Hwanghae Province) and Ichone County (Kangwon Province). It stated that the Sunchon Cement plant had provided 10,000t of cement to reconstruction sites in ‘a short span of time.’

Pakistan: Leading cement producers have said that prices will rise by 10% before 2021 if a reduction in Federal Excise Duty (FED) to US$5.95/t of cement from US$11.9/t does not materialise. DG Khan Cement owner Nishat Group chair Mian Mansha said, “Failing this, producers will take a US$119m total hit on revenues,” according to the Express Tribune newspaper.

Namibia: Ohorongo Cement, despite not having any coronavirus cases itself, has seen a steep decline in demand for cement due to the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In an interview with local press, Frankleen Alberts, Manager of Customer Relations and Public Affairs at Namibia’s only integrated cement plant, said that, while domestic sales had suffered from a slowdown in public works and lower private construction levels, the closure of Namibia’s borders had all but eliminated opportunities for exports. It had also hampered the company’s supply chains.

Alberts said, “Cement sales have been affected since the outbreak of the virus. We were able to continue supplying our Namibian market without major interruptions while adhering to the regulations under the state of emergency. However, due to the restrictions and quarantine rules by neighbouring countries, our export market suffered adversely.” She added, “Due to the restrictions on travel and flights, the supply chain is affected and this includes inbound and outbound logistics, in terms of export sales.”

Alberts said that day-to-day operations at the company have not been affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as the company had introduced regulations as published by government and as required by the ministry of mines and energy to ensure the safety of employees while continuing with operations. None of the company’s employees was furloughed or laid off.