Nepal: The government plans to prioritise cement as a major export. It made the announcement as part of a presentation to parliament for the 2019 – 2020 financial year, according to the Himalayan Times newspaper. However, Dhruva Thapa, president the Nepal Cement Producers' Association said that the government needs to cut taxes on the cement industry to make exports competitive.

North Korea: The state-owned Sangwon Cement plant plans to increase its production output by upgrading a speed reducer in a raw material crusher. The plant launched a seawater-resistant cement product in 2018, according to the Pyongyang Times newspaper. It has been supplying this product to projects in the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area.

Pakistan: The gas supply to Lucky Cement’s Pezu plant has been disrupted by an investigation by Suit Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGP) into unaccounted-for gas. An initial short shutdown to the supply has been extended to over a month, according to the news International newspaper. The gas supplier is investigating widespread theft of its gas via illegal connections.

Kenya/Tanzania: The governments of Kenya and Tanzania are working together to resume exports of cement. A delegation of Tanzanian officials are due to inspect cement plants in Kenya to verify the source of the raw materials used in their manufacture, according to the East African newspaper. This could then lead to exports of cement from Kenya to Tanzania to be re-allowed.

The two countries recently held bilateral trade talks in Arusha on non-tariff barriers. They agreed to speed up the verification missions recommended for confirmation of product origin as provided for in the East African Community rules of origin. Tanzania blocked cement despatches from Kenya in 2018 due to the use of imported clinker.