Europe & CIS

Cement production in Poland increased by 74.4% y/y and sales rose by 100.4% y/y in March 2014, according to data released by the Polish Cement Association.

UK energy intensive industry groups have expressed disappointment that help with high energy costs will now not be available to the cement and ceramics industries.

The 4th International Holcim Awards competition attracted over 6000 projects and visions in sustainable construction from 152 countries.

European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia tells reporters the LafargeHolcim deal will be subject to a phase 2 analysis.

KHD Humboldt Wedag International AG’s subsidiary, ZAB Zementanlagenbau GmbH Dessau, has been awarded contracts to supply equipment and services for a new cement plant in Kaluga, Russia.

Nevyanskiy Cementnik, a subsidiary of Eurocement based in Russia’s Sverdlosk region, reported a 14% y/y increase in cement production in March 2014.

Anglo American plc has announced the completion of its sale of Tarmac Building Products to Lafarge Tarmac, its 50:50 UK joint venture with Lafarge.

Talk has turned to which companies might pick up the assets the two companies would need to divest in order to get the merger past regulators.

The latest cement statistics from Morocco and the Canary Islands, and an update on construction activity in Portugal.

KHD has won a contract for a new 3500 tpd clinker line and completes performance tests on KCS Kahramanmaras Cimento’s Maras Kiln Line II.

The mandatory conversion of savings shares into ordinary shares is approved by a large majority.

UK union GMB has issued a statement expressing concern for employees affected by the uncertainty that will be generated by the merger, which will have to go through significant regulatory approval.

Some key facts about cement and building materials producers Lafarge and Holcim following the announcement that they plan to merge.

Many are sceptical about the competition aspect of the deal, which some have suggested will keep it tied up in red tape for up to two years. However, Imran Akram of IA Cement is upbeat about the news.

Increased spending in the Azerbaijani construction sector in January – February 2014 contributed to a rise in the country’s GDP.