Africa & The Middle East

Iran is continuing to push its cement industry, producing more than 23.8 million t of cement in the first four months.

Raysut Cement reports a rise in profit before tax and stable revenue despite increasing market competition from UAE.

Reports in the media suggest that ARM Cement has been granted the land for a new quarry and integrated cement plant.

PPC Barnet DRC has signed a contract with China’s Sinoma for the construction of a cement plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Nigerian cement company, which is part of the Lafarge Group, posted an increase of more than 200% in profit after tax for the first half of this year.

After a careful review of the market’s best maintenance solutions, Jordan’s Modern Cement and Mining Company chose to build its future plant management with API Maintenance Systems software.

The Kenyan company saw a 28% decline in pre-tax profit, but an increase in turnover in the first half.

On 30 March 2014, the 3300 tpd Iraq Al-Douh clinker production line, which was constructed by CNBM International Engineering Co. Ltd, successfully came onstream.

Figures indicate cement consumption is growing faster than production; local cement manufacturers look at opportunities for expansion.

As part of a US$2 billion investment in Africa between now and 2018, GE is partnering with Dangote Industries and the Dangote Foundation to develop infrastructure and training initiatives.

The Kamloops cement plant in British Columbia, Canada, is taking in 70 000 lb pa of K-Cup® packs to use as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Turkey’s Limak Cement is venturing abroad to establish Limak Afrika SA, which will partner with Afrikbat to build a cement plant in Côte d’Ivoire.

Cement imports were up more than 30% in the first half of this year, according to reports.

South Africa’s PPC introduces Cement and Concrete Cube (C3), an information sharing platform for the cement and concrete sector.

Edward George, Head of Soft Commodity Research at Ecobank, reports on the tremendous growth of the cement industry in Middle Africa (abridged).