China: Dongwu Cement sales rose by to US$77.4m in 2018 from US$53.3m in 2017. Its profit more than tripled to US$13.4m from US$3.7m. Its cement sales volumes grew by 5% to 1.45Mt. It attributed its sales and profit growth to increasing cement prices.
International Cement Group planning to expand in Asia and Africa
Singapore: International Cement Group is planning to build new cement plants in Central Asia, Africa and South-east Asia to complement China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The company, formerly known as Compact Metal Industries, has held a ceremony to mark its listing at the Singapore Stock Exchange, according to the Business Times Singapore newspaper.
The company holds a 65% stake in a 1.2Mt/yr cement plant in Tajikistan. This unit’s production capacity was recently upgraded to 1.35Mt/yr. In mid-2018 it said it was building a new plant in Kazakhstan. This project is scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2019. In late 2018 the group said it had failed to buy a majority stake in a partially-built cement plant at Salamanga in Mozambique. In March 2019 the group agreed to buy a majority stake in Namibia’s Ohorongo Cement from Schwenk Namibia for US$104m.
Xuan Thanh Cement orders new production line from FLSmidth
Vietnam: Xuan Thanh Cement has ordered a new production line for a plant in Ha Nam province from Denmark’s FLSmidth for around Euro74m. FLSmidth will design and engineer the new clinker production line and deliver equipment for the entire production from crushing to clinker silo. The order is due to be fully delivered by the end of 2020, and, once operational the production line will have a capacity of 12,500t/day. In 2015, Xuan Thanh Cement placed a similar order for a production line that has been operating since 2017.
Holcim Philippines approved to build new plant
Philippines: Holcim Philippines plans to build a new cement plant in Bulacan province have been approved by the Board of Investments. The 2.5Mt/yr Bulacan Line 3 plant is part of the company US$300m investment drive to increase its production capacity by 30% by 2020, according to the Manila Times newspaper. The approval also grants the projects tax incentives covered by the government’s investment code.
