The Americas

According to Peruvian cement association ASOCEM, its member companies dispatched 847 982 t of cement on the national market in June 2014.

Martin Marietta has completed its purchase of Texas Industries, Inc. The combined company has a market capitalisation of approximately US$8.8 billion.

Orcem Americas Inc is planning a 2200 tpd facility on the Vallejo Marine Terminal to produce its GGBS mix, which can replace a proportion of traditional cement in concrete.

ASTM International celebrates 100 years of the C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and member Colin Lobo receives the Award of Merit for his outstanding service to the committee.

Cemex Construction Materials Florida wishes to add 730 acres to its mining operations.

Domestic cement consumption dropped by 1.8% y/y in Argentina in June 2014; 1.25 million bags of cement were sold in Puerto Rico in May; the route of the US$40 billion Grand Canal of Nicaragua has been announced.

With Brazil hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup, attention has turned to Latin America this month. But how has the region’s cement industry fared? Paul Maxwell-Cook takes a look.

US spending on construction is estimated at US$956.1 billion in May, 0.1% higher than April 2014 and 6.6% higher than May 2013.

Symtek SAS, which specialises in material analysis for a number of industrial sectors, is celebrating 20 years since its founding in 1994.

Shipments of limestone and cement by US-flag lakers fell y/y in May 2014; the CAC releases industry statistics for 2012; the sector responds to the planned divestment of Holcim assets in Canada.

Mexico’s Cementos Fortaleza held an official inauguration ceremony for the 1 million tpa plant in Hidalgo, which is expected to increase from 80% production to full capacity by the end of the year.

Over to North America now, as Paul Maxwell-Cook discusses how construction market performance is affecting the cement industry in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Graymont is moving forward with the Rexton Project in Michigan. It plans to resume operations at the Hendricks Quarry site and to transport the limestone to the Sand Products Dock on Lake Michigan.

According to local reports, the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organisation will complete construction of the 1 million tpa Cerro Azul plant in Venezuela in the next few months.

Some of the key news stories from the international cement industry this week, from recruitment to building codes to reducing carbon emissions in North America.