Japan: Taiheiyo Cement is starting large-scale recycling of large lithium-ion batteries at its integrated Tsuruga plant. It has been developing the process with Matsuda Sangyo since 2011 using exhaust gases from clinker production as part of dismantling, crushing and sorting processes to extract precious metals from the batteries. Taiheiyo Cement, its subsidiary Tsuruga Cement and Matsuda Sangyo started a recycling business in April 2020 following certification by the Japan Auto Recycling Partnership (JARP).

Italy: Good performance in the US has helped Buzzi Unicem hold sales steady in the first half of 2020 despite falling sales volumes of cement, particularly in Italy and Eastern Europe, as the coronavirus pandemic spread. The group’s net sales remained stable at Euro1.52bn. Its cement sales volumes fell by 3.4% year-on-year to 13.4Mt from 13.9Mt in the same period in 2019. Concrete sales volumes decreased by 6.3% to 5.46Mm³ from 5.83Mm³. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 8.8% to Euro314m from Euro289m. The company said that the decline in sales volumes was counteracted by growing prices and lowered production costs.

In its outlook the group said, “The outlines of the pandemic, which in some countries has not yet reached the phase of controlled circulation, as well as the intensity of global recession and the demand for building materials may be characterized by further sudden developments in the coming months. Visibility for the second half of the year continues to be very limited and our forecasts are based on a scenario of gradual mitigation of the infections and related restrictions on economic activity, in the geographical areas where the group operates.” It added that it expected its recurring EBTIDA to possibly fall by 5 – 10% year-on-year in 2020.

Austria: RHI Magnesita’s revenue from its cement and lime market fell by 12.1% year-on-year to Euro160m in the first half of 2020 from Euro182m in the same period of 2019. It said that the segment performed well in the first quarter of 2020 as producers maintained and repaired plants. Second quarter performance was negatively affected by coronavirus, “with a sharp contraction in demand in key end-markets, leading to reduced production and some temporary closures of cement plants in certain regions.” The group forecasts that its cement and lime segment will continue to follow the trend of the second quarter of 2020 although government stimulus projects, especially for infrastructure projects, may improve the situation.

Namibia: The Namibian Competition Commission has blocked the sale of Ohorongo Cement to China-based West China Cement on the grounds that it would ‘substantially’ reduce competition in the cement market. It warned that it could lead to coordination between Ohorongo Cement and Whale Rock Cement. The commission added that, “no concrete benefit would outweigh the detrimental effects that will result from the implementation of the proposed merger”.

West China Cement agreed to buy a majority stake in the cement company for US$104m from Germany-based Schwenk Zement subsidiary Schwenk Namibia in January 2020. Previously, Singaporean authorities stopped the sale of Schwenk Namibia to Singaporean-based International Cement Group (ICG) in September 2019 due to the latter’s inability to cover the losses of the Namibian company.