Cement industry news from Global Cement

Vicem and FLSmidth target sustainable cement production

Vietnam: The Vietnam National Cement Corporation (Vicem) and Denmark-based supplier FLSmidth have announced a cooperation agreement with the aim of radically reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from cement production and improving air quality. The cooperation will consist of Vicem implementing solutions pioneered by FLSmidth. FLSmidth said that a key focus of the cooperation will be Vicat’s use of ‘municipal and other waste streams as alternative fuel sources,’ with the aim of achieving 100% substitution using FLSmidth solutions, in accordance with FLSmidth’s ambition ‘to enable cement companies to operate with zero emissions by 2030.’

Cementos Argos saves waste with recycled bags

Colombia: Cementos Argos has announced that its Green Bags initiative has seen the production of over 5 million bags from recycled paper, of which 808t was saved from going to waste. Cementos Argos supply chain manager David Restrepo that the initiative provides an alternative to ‘the felling of over 8000 trees and use of 64,000m³ of water, the equivalent of 26 Olympic swimming pools.’

JK Cement records 130% year-on-year nine-month profit growth

India: JK Cement has announced a rise in total comprehensive profit (net of tax) over the nine months ended 31 December 2019 of 130% to US$56.2m from US$24.5m in the corresponding period of 2018. Revenues rose by 14% year-on-year to US$567m in the period from US$495m over the nine months to 31 December 2018.

On 3 February 2020 JK Cement commissioned a 1.5Mt/yr and a 1.0Mt/yr grinding unit at its Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Mangrol, Rajasthan, plants.

Taiheiyo Cement’s nine-month profit falls by 4.3% year-on-year

Japan: Taiheiyo Cement recorded a net profit of US$278m in the nine months to 31 December 2019, the first three quarters of the Japanese 2020 fiscal year. This corresponds to a 10% fall from US$310m in the nine months to 31 December 2018. Its nine-month sales fell by 4.3% year-on-year to US$6.04bn in the first three quarters of the present financial year, compared to US$6.31bn one year previously.

Taiheiyo Cement revised its forecasted full-year (to 31 March 2020) net profit down from US$570m, published in its six-month results on 12 November 2019, to US$364m.