Cement news highlights: 28 April – 2 May

May issue highlights

This week, World Cement’s May 2014 issue became available online, so we brought you some highlights from the magazine. This includes an article by Egypt’s Suez Cement, an overview of the Brazilian cement market ahead of the 6^th Brazilian Cement Conference (19 – 21 May in São Paulo), as well as a look back at ‘150 Years of Growth and Change’ at Gebr. Pfeiffer.

Subscribers can view the full issue by logging in, and non-subscribers can access a PDF preview of the issue here.

1Q14 results

Many cement producers have now released their results for the first quarter of 2014. These results have generally been mixed, indicating that the industry continues to face challenges across geographical regions. However, there have been some positive developments, particularly in countries such as Colombia as Cemex LatAm and Argos’ results attest.

National associations and government bodies have also begun to report sales and production statistics for cement and construction materials. In the UK, sales of aggregates and ready-mixed concrete increased year-in-year in 1Q14, while 76% of construction product manufacturing firms experienced a rise in sales compared to the previous quarter. In India, most of the country’s core sectors witnessed a slowdown in growth in March 2014, but cement output remained stable. The Confederation of Indian Industry has published a report that estimates that cement demand will reach 550 – 600 million tpa by 2025. An overview of the report can be found here.

Health and safety

The 28 April was World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2014. Kenya’s Savannah Cement held an event to celebrate this year’s theme – ‘Safety and health in the use of chemicals at work’  – during which Savannah Cement’s Managing Director confirmed the company’s commitment to ensuring the highest standards of chemical safety onsite. Meanwhile, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents launched a new website, www.historyofosh.org.uk, to coincide with World Day for Safety and Health at Work. This site covers over 200 years of occupational health and safety in UK industry. Last but not least, leading health and safety experts explain why strict legislation, strong health and safety awareness and effective management systems are the key to providing a safe working environment in the cement and concrete sectors.

Written by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/02052014/web_cement_news_highlights_28_april_2_may_134/