India: Ramco Cements has launched a new premium blended cement, Ramco Supercrete. The company says that Ramco Supercrete is packed in Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene bags (BOPP) bags to ensure no spillage and thus ensure a cleaner environment. Ramco Supercrete will be targeted at the ‘premium’ section of the cement market.

Ramco Cement also reports that it has invested US$500m in various expansions that are underway. The company's new capacity in West Bengal is already on stream. The company's Odisha plant is expected to be commissioned by October 2019, its Vizag plant expansion will be completed by December 2019, its Jayanthipuram expansion by July 2020 and work on its Kurnool plant will be finished by March 2021.

Peru: The Supreme Court has upheld a fine of nearly US$2m by the National Institute for the Defense of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) on UNACEM. The penalty was levied due to UNACEM and its distribution network refusing to allow retailers to sell cement made by its competitor, according to the Gestión newspaper. INDECOPI said that in 2014 UNACEM and its collaborators refused to allow retailers to stock its Sol brand of cement if they were selling the rival Quisqueya brand produced by Mexico’s Cemex.

Honduras: Colombia’s Ultracem plans to build a new cement grinding plant in Cortés, Honduras. At present the company has invested US$2m in the country and it employs 60 people, according to La Prensa newspaper. The new production plant will create another 100 jobs. The cement producer currently operates a grinding plant at Barranquilla in Colombia.

Japan: Sumitomo Osaka Cement has commissioned a new 6000t silo at its Shimizu termimal in Shizuoka. Following the upgrade, the unit now has three silos. The new silo will be used to support infrastructure projects, including expansions to the Shinkansen high-speed railway network.