China: Anhui Conch expects its net profit to rise by nearly 100% year-on-year to US$2.3bn in 2018. It has attributed the growth in profit to rising cement prices, growing operating income and effects from structural reform in the industry.
Government approves two new lines at Thanh Thang Cement plant
Vietnam: Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has allowed Thanh Thang Cement to add two new production lines to its plant at Thanh Nghi in Ha Nam. Lines 4 and 5 will have a combined production capacity of 2.3Mt/yr, according Viet Nam News newspaper. Line 4 is expected to be commissioned in 2022 and line 5 in 2026. The cost of the upgrade has been disclosed.
YD Madencilik orders two grinding plants from Christian Pfeiffer
Turkey: YD Madencilik, part of Üstyapi Insaat Group, has ordered two grinding plants from Germany’s Christian Pfeiffer for a new cement plant in the Düzce region. Christian Pfeiffer will supply two parallel grinding plants, consisting of a roller press (2x 1450kW) and a ball mill (Ø 4.0 x 13.0m, 3200kW), supplemented by a KS200 static separator and a TFS 325-Z twin feed separator.
Each of the two plants ensures a production of 210t/hr of ordinary Portland Cement. Alternatively, the two grinding plants can also be operated separately to allow production of different types of cement. It is also possible to operate the roller presses or the ball mills in single mode. Delivery of components for the plants started in late 2018 and they are scheduled to be completed by the end of may 2019. Christian Pfeiffer previously worked with YD Madencilik in 2015.
SNIC forecasts 3% growth in 2019
Brazil: Paulo Camillo, the president of SNIC, forecasts that cement sales will rise by 3% in 2019. If he is correct then it will be the first rise in four years for the local industry. Total cement sales fell by 1.1% year-on-year to 52.8Mt in 2018 from 53.4Mt in 2017. Particular falls in sales were noted in the north and northeast of the country, although exports rose by 14.3% to 88,000t. A truck drivers strike and general economic uncertainty reduced the effects of a positive first half to the year. The cement association also said that freight, fuels and electricity costs grew ‘significantly’ in 2018. However, it is optimistic that new legislation support co-processing of alternative fuels will partly help to alleviate this situation.
