Japan: Sumitomo Osaka Cement has completed a new cement silo at its Kochi plant. The upgrade is part of a long-term plan to focus on exports to Southeast Asia. The cement producer intends to establish an overseas business presence outside of Japan.
Gambian cement producers operating at 23% utilisation rate
The Gambia: Bai Lamin Jobe, the Minister of Trade, says that the country has a cement capacity utilisation rate of 23%. Local producers have a capacity of 1.9Mt/yr but national demand is only around 0.4Mt, according to the Foroyaa newspaper. He added that the country imported 0.39Mt in 2018 in answers to members of the National Assembly.
It was also revealed that Jah Multi Industries is building new silos at its import terminal. Jah Cement is also planning to upgrade its terminal into a grinding plant. Construction work started in 2018 and it is expected to be completed by late 2019.
Cimencam inaugurates Nomayos cement grinding plant
Cameroon: Cimencam has inaugurated its 0.5Mt/yr Nomayos cement grinding plant. The company also launched a new logo, according to the Ecofin Agency. The new unit will manufacture the company’s MultiX CEM II 32.5 R Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and its Sublime white cement products.
The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim is planning to regain lost market share in the country since Dangote Cement started operating locally. It is planning to build a new kiln at its Figuil integrated plant in Garoua, which is due for commissioning in 2020.
US cement shipments grow by 2.3% to 97.7Mt in 2018
US: Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that national shipments of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and blended cement rose by 1.3% year-on-year to 85.3Mt in 2018 from 84.2Mt in 2017. Imports rose by 10% to 12.4Mt from 11.3Mt. Overall, shipments rose by 2.3% to 97.6Mt. The top clinker producing regions in 2018 were Texas, California, Missouri and Florida. The country imported 15.1Mt of cement and clinker from, in order of descending volume, Canada, Turkey, China, Greece and Mexico.
