Asia & Pacific Rim

The struggling Australian cement industry is heavily affected by emissions taxation.

On 1 June 2011, the Northeim, Germany-based ContiTech Conveyor Belt Group took over the conveyor belt operations of Tianjin Xinbinhai Conveyor Belt Co., Ltd., Tianjin.

UltraTech Cement has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding for the commissioning of a railway project in the Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts of India.

The country’s cement sector is likely to be aided by the construction of a new dam, expected to consume approximately 5 million tpa of the product.

Shree Cement has announced a net profit of Rs 65.79 crore for the quarter ended 31 March 2011. However, the company’s net profit for FY2011 has dropped 69%.

The leading Australian cement and lime manufacturer predicts its full year profit to be on the same level as its 2010 result.

Increased domestic demand has meant the leading cement manufacturers in Taiwan saw their sales increase by over 15% year-on-year this April.

As a result of a recent cement price hike, Taiwan’s leading cement producers invested in China have posted profit in the first quarter.

UltraTech Cement has announced its financial results for the year ended 31 March 2011. As well as reporting a decline in sales, attributable to slower growth in cement demand, the company also revealed plans to increase cement capacity by 9.2 million tpa over the next three years.

Holcim Philippines is reportedly planning investments of around US$500 million in a new Philippine cement plant.

In India, KCP and JP Industries’ new plants are expected to commence production, increasing the installed capacity in the Krishna district by over 4.2 million tpa of cement.

Reliance Cementation has begun negotiations to acquire Sree Jayajothi Cements.

A boost in demand in the northern regions of India has benefitted BK Birla’s subsidiary Mangalam Cement.

The APCMA has recently announced its analysis of the July – March 2010/11 time period, highlighting a loss in domestic sales and exports.

Morgan Stanley has sold its final 8.8% stake in the Chinese Shansui Cement for US$222 million.