Cement news from Thailand and beyond

Siam Cement Group is expanding its interests in Indonesia through its subsidiary PT Semen Jawa. The Group will invest Rp.3.4 trillion (US$304.7 million) in a new 1.8 million tpa cement plant in Sukabumi, West Java, according to reports. Construction of the new plant is set to begin in 2015.

This is the latest in a series of reports of expansion by the company, which is on course to grow within its target market of the ASEAN region. Though Indonesia’s cement sales have slowed in recent months, its long term prospects remain strong and news of expansions, upgrades and other projects continues to come in on an almost weekly basis.

Elsewhere in Thailand, Precious Shipping has ordered a 20 000 dwt cement carrier from China Shipbuilding & Offshore International and Shanhaiguan New Shipbuilding Industry. The cement carrier will cost US$24.48 million and will be delivered by the end of November 2014. The vessel will be registered in Singapore and has already been assigned to a long-term charter. The order was placed to take advantage of low new-build prices.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui