The Americas

CeraTech has signed up for the challenge organised by Architecture 2030, which will see it target embodied carbon-equivalent footprint reduction goals.

Dispatches of Portland cement, including exports, increased by 2.6% m/m in May 2014 in Argentina, but contracted by 8.5% y/y.

The US National Ready Mixed Concrete Associations seeks proposals for the 2015 conference in Miami, Florida.

According to reports, Holcim US Inc. is planning to invest some US$100 million in the modernisation of its Ada plant in Oklahoma.

Paraguay’s INC will receive some US$67 million from the country’s government, which it will invest into modernisation projects.

According to preliminary estimates from SNIC, domestic cement sales dropped 0.7% y/y in Brazil in May but grew by 2.8% y/y in January – May 2014.

Cemex Mexico has received awards under the Greenhouse Gas Effect Programme for its coprocessing system and the reduction and management of GHG emissions.

Carolinas Cement Company, a subsidiary of Titan America, has announced plans to establish a packaging facility at an existing cement storage and distribution terminal in New Hanover County.

The Canadian government will regulate industrial air pollutant emissions through the Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations, the first phase of which will include the cement industry, industrial boilers and heaters and stationary engines.

Holcim Brazil, Votorantim Cimentos and Cimpor have released statements denying CADE’s allegations of price fixing in the cement and concrete market and have reaffirmed plans to contest the ruling.

Mondi is acquiring the US industrial bag and kraft paper business of Graphic Packaging International.

According to the Government Development Bank of Puerto Rico’s Economic Activity Index, 1.29 million bags of cement were sold in April 2014, down 17.5% y/y.

US construction spending figure for April is higher than March 2014 and April 2013 estimates, with private and public construction spending reaching US$686.5 billion and US$267 billion, respectively.

According to the latest statistics from DANE, domestic cement dispatches and production levels increased by 4.3% and 15.9% y/y, respectively, in April 2014.

St Marys Cement held a celebration yesterday marking the receipt of this award, which commends the plant’s considerable achievements in energy efficiency.