Europe & CIS

Typically cement has been supplied to the market in traditional paper sacks but this may be about to change.

Domestic cement consumption increased by 13.3% y/y to 961 712 t in Spain in April 2015, with consumption up 9.7% y/y in January – April.

Kaspar E.A. Wenger has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Holcim (Schweiz) AG, effective from 30 June 2015. Gerd Aufdenblatten, currently CFO of Holcim Central Europe, will succeed him as Cluster-CEO.

Eurocement’s Oskolcement sold 201 300 t of cement in April 2015.

Cement sales totalled 38 674 t in the Canary Islands in April 2015, and 3781 t in Lanzarote.

A round-up of this week’s cement industry news, from financial results to new projects.

The ONS has estimated that UK construction output contracted both y/y and q/q in 1Q15, but the Construction Products Association has contested these figures.

Currency depreciation had a negative affect on what would otherwise have been a positive year for the Kazakh company, which has recently ceased operation on its wet lines to run more efficient dry lines instead.

The refractories group reported revenue of €424.1 million, which is a 5.4% increase y/y.

The Mineral Products Association and the Rail Freight Group have launched a new joint initiative for the development of rail freight logistics for the UK’s construction sector.

In a new report, the World Bank has laid out the steps that will need to be taken to achieve zero net emissions by 2100, saying they exist and they are affordable if action is taken now.

The activity on the demolition market is off to a good start in 2015 when looking at dry bulk tonnage, says BIMCO.

David said he is delighted to have been appointed an Honorary Fellow of such a prestigious organisation.

David Khanna, Commercial Director, bpi.visqueen, UK, explains why polythene is giving cement manufacturers a unique opportunity to differentiate.

The Italian cement producer has reported a 0.9% drop in revenue for the period.