Tajikistan: Tajikistan continued to import a small volume of cement in 2019, despite a year-on-year increase in the production and export. The country produced 4.2Mt of cement, 0.4Mt (10.5%) more than in 2018. 20,000t of cement was imported into the country in 2019, especially white cement, which is not produced in Tajikistan.

Exports of cement rose during 2019 to 1.5Mt, at a value of US$68.1m. 980,000t were exported to Uzbekistan, 576,000t were exported to Afghanistan and 80,600t were exported to Kyrgyzstan.

Germany: HeidelbergCement has reported that its result from current operations (RCO) for the fourth quarter of 2019 grew by 3% year-on-year to Euro603m, from Euro584m in the fourth quarter of 2018. Its result from current operations before depreciation and amortisation (RCOBD) grew by 13% to Euro968m from Euro858m, while its revenue declined by 3% year-on-year from Euro4.70bn to Euro4.58bn.

HeidelbergCement reported that its cement sales were 31.4Mt for the quarter, 2% lower than the 32.0Mt sold in the fourth quarter of 2018. It will release its consolidated financial results on 19 March 2020.

India: Deccan Cements has firmed up its plan to expand its cement plant in Mahankaligudem, Nalgonda District, Telangana. The plant will be expanded from 1.8Mt/yr via the installation of a third line at an investment cost of US$85m.

The project will also increase the capacity of the plant’s waste heat recovery power plant from 18MW to 33MW. The project will generate employment opportunities for 170 new staff.

The project is expected to commence by September 2020, with completion scheduled for mid 2021.

Italy: Cementir Holding, a Caltagirone Group company, closed 2019 with revenues of Euro1.21bn, according to the consolidated preliminary results examined yesterday by the board of directors chaired by Francesco Caltagirone Jr. This represents a year-on-year rise of 1.2% compared to 2018.

Cementir’s gross operating margin grew by 10.6% to Euro263.8m. Cement and clinker volumes, however, fell by 3.4% to 9.5Mt. On a like-for-like basis, cement and clinker sales were down 5%. The company attributed this to a ‘negative trend’ in Turkey, partially balanced by the positive performance of Belgium and Denmark. Ready mixed concrete sales also fell due to the effects of the Turkish economy. Overall ready mixed concrete sales fell to 4.1Mm3/yr, a drop of 16.4% year-on-year.