Global Cement News

Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan’s three cement works of an integrated capacity of 5Mt/yr produced 2.5Mt of cement in the nine months to 30 September 2019, down by 1.2% compared to 2.6Mt over the same term in 2018. Overall sales were low in the period, but exports picked up in the quarter to 30 September 2019, stimulating production levels of 0.9Mt, representing no change year-on-year.

Namibia: The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has recognised Ohorongo Cement’s commitment to quality with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certification. The former follows technical auditing of the entire cement-making process to ensure ‘quality at the core of all processes,’ according to New Era, while the latter signifies the attainment of ‘the global standard for an effective environmental management system.’ The company commented that: “Ohorongo ensures that all operations and practices exhibit responsibility towards all stakeholders and the environment.”

Ohorongo Cement’s 69.8% owner Schwenk Namibia failed to sell to Singaporean-based International Cement Group (ICG) in September 2019.

China: Gansu Qilianshan Cement Group made a net profit of US$147m in the first nine months of 2019, representing an increase of 89% from its nine-month profit to 30 September 2018 of US$78m. Operating income recorded a comparatively slow growth of 21% to US$737m from US$610 in the corresponding 2018 reporting period. The company attributed its profitable results to tactical divestments.

Qatar: Qatar National Cement Company recorded a net profit of US$35.5m in the nine months to 30 September 2019, down by 41% compared to US$60.1m in the corresponding period of 2018. The depleted profit was ostensibly due to the company increasing its expenditure in expanding its export base to Africa and India.

Pakistan: Cement producers in Pakistan dispatched a total volume of 4.3Mt of cement in September 2019, 13% more than the 3.8Mt shifted in September 2018. Domestic consumption stood at 3.5Mt, representing a 13% increase from 3.1Mt in the same month of 2018. The country exported the remaining 0.8Mt, a 14% increase compared to the 0.7Mt exported in September 2018. The Pakistan Observer has suggested that dwindling demand and new legislation requiring sellers of goods over US$319 in value to have a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), something which the majority of cement producers do not hold, are placing a drag on growth.