Asia & Pacific Rim

India’s real estate industry is demanding an enquiry into what it calls the ‘exorbitant price hike by leading manufacturers’.

In a recent meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister urged cement companies to cut energy costs and to restructure, in order to sharpen their competitiveness.

David Hayes profiles India and Pakistan’s cement industries.

BEUMER enhances market presence with acquisition of Enexco Teknologies India Ltd.

Siam Cement PCL recently announced investment plans worth US$441.2 million, to buy a 30% stake in Indonesia's PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk.

Ambuja Cements has acquired a 60% equity stake in Dirk India at a cost of Rs 16.51 crore.

In an effort to secure supply, Semen Gresik is actively looking to acquire a local coal mining company.

UltraTech, one of India’s largest cement producers, recently stated that oversupply would continue to plague the 300 million t industry for another 24 – 36 months.

Sinoma has announced that it is in talks in Europe and the US over acquisitions valued at 1 – 10 billion yuan each.

Taiwan Cement Corp. has recently posted an almost 43% increase in net profit for the first half of this year on the back of strong growth in its operations in China.

Cemex in the Philippines has partnered with two international environmental groups to implement a joint US$10 million alternative fuels project at its Solid Cement plant. Additionally, health and safety efforts are recognised in Austria and Thailand.

As reported last week, Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a huge cement shortage, currently estimated at 1 million bags per month. Now, local companies are planning to increase ready-mix facilities and expand cement production capacity.

Analysts continue to predict a negative outlook for the Indian cement industry, as demand-supply glut continues. Meanwhile, mining has been suspended in Chittorgarh and the Ministry of Environment and Forests has reported that action is being taken against plants that are not complying with emissions standards.

Reliance has placed orders with Loesche for two projects in India, comprising four mills altogether.

The cement shortage in Sri Lanka continues, as price controls limit supplies and threaten the island's construction sector.