Africa & The Middle East

Saudi cement demand took a hit in 2013 due to a government crackdown on visas and the departure of hundreds of thousands of expatriate workers from the country.

Iran, the world’s fourth largest cement producer, could overtake US production if the country’s 75 million tpa nominal capacity becomes actual capacity.

ARM Cements is waiting on board approval on plans to establish a plant in South Africa, while Habesha Cement has secured financing for its Chinese contractor.

In order to comply with the listing regulations at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Dangote must raise its free float stake from less than 5% to 20% by October.

FLSmidth will provide the main equipment for a new production line at a cement plant in Umm Bab, Qatar.

South Africa’s PPC successfully acquires a 69.3% stake in Safika Cement Holdings.

Mbeya Cement Tanzania has introduced a new bag filter that significantly reduces stack emissions, in order to meet national and international standards.

16 000 bags of cement have been donated by the Ghacem Cement Foundation (GCF) to health and educational institutions in Northern Ghana.

In Zambia, Zambezi Portland Cement has boosted cement production by an additional 3000 tonnes per month in response to increased cement demand.

A new high-strength cement, which is suitable for use in heavy construction works, has been launched by Nigeria’s UniCem.

Shipments of materials such as cement and coal have been disrupted due to the rail workers’ union strike in Korea.

The expiration of the amnesty on irregular foreign workers has been blamed for the recent fall in sales across several Saudi cement companies.

Iran’s cement industry is on the up as output exceeds 50 million t in the first eight months of the current Iranian fiscal year.

Plans for two new Derba Cement plants are in the works to add to the existing Derba MIDROC Cement operations in Ethiopia.

The Pakistani cement industry faces uncertainty over Afghanistan’s future post-NATO withdrawal.