India: The Economic Times has reported a forecasted profit growth for UltraTech Cement of 122% to US$119m over the three months to 31 December 2019 from US$53.6m in the corresponding period of 2018. It explained the boom in terms of increased sales, which may have risen by 7% year-on-year to US$1.50bn from US$1.40bn, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) per tonne – up by 45% to US$15.8/t from US$10.9/t. It predicted volumes growth of 3% year-on-year, dragged down by UltraTech subsidiary Century Cement’s falling production.

Uzbekistan: The State Committee of Uzbekistan for Ecology and Environmental Protection plans to create a system of monitoring stations for automatic measurement of air pollution, including particulate matter (PM), throughout the country. Part of this will include the installation of automatic emissions sampling and analysis stations at a number of industrial plants, as well as static monitoring stations within and near plant sites, including in the cement sector. Installation will be at the cost of the industrial facility.

In late 2019 the State Committee for Ecology, together with the Ministry of Health and Uzhydromet, took samples of air from 13 cement plants, finding that five greatly exceeded international norms for dust emissions. Based on the results of the audit, the committee has developed a draft government decree on strengthening environmental control over cement plants. If the document is approved, then all existing cement manufacturers will be obliged to install automatic sampling stations for analysis of air pollution by 1 January 2022, as well as stationary posts in the adjacent territory at their own expense.

UK: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued Initial Enforcement Orders (IEOs) to Breedon Group and Cemex over the former’s acquisition of a minority of UK ready-mix and aggregates operations, as well as a cement terminal, belonging to the Mexican cement giant for Euro211m. Breedon Group said that the IEO was expected and would govern, among other things, the ‘form and scope of the information that can be shared between Breedon and Cemex’ in defence of customers’ interests, according to The Construction Index website.

Australia: National press in Australia has reported that the Irish building materials giant CRH has approached Boral regarding a possible takeover. CRH snapped up US$6.5bn of assets from Lafarge and Holcim in 2015 following their merger to become LafargeHolcim, and it consequently became the third-largest building materials supplier by market value internationally.

The speculation comes amid market expectations that Boral could be broken up if a takeover does not unfold soon. Suitors have looked at Boral before but a deal has never eventuated. The company’s market value is US$3.9bn, so it could be within the grasp of a cash-rich strategic player or private equity firm from overseas. Three years ago Boral was worth more than US$4.8bn.

Meanwhile, Australia's devastating recent bushfires have affected Boral’s Berrima plant in New South Wales, likely leading to lower production and margins. This was due to extended leave for staff and road closures.