The Americas

Cimpor is to build an integrated clinker and cement plant in South Brazil. The plant, which is scheduled to start production in early 2014, will have a production capacity of 1.2 million tpa of cement.

While the economic recession is over and economic growth is strengthening, the construction recession may not run its course for another 18 months, hindering an improvement in cement consumption for the next two years according to the most recent economic forecast from the PCA.

The Portland Cement Association has recognised six US cement plants for their efforts in environmental improvement.

Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCC) has begun its regional expansion with exports into the Dominican Republic as well as plans for Haiti.

In order to cover costs associated with the EPA regulations, GCC Dacotah cement plant recently announced it will raise its prices by 5%.

TXI announces in a recent press release the acquisition of Trinity Industries subsidiary, Transit Mix Concrete and Materials Company.

Cemex announced today that it has been named the primary cement supplier for the first phase of Reventazón hydroelectric plant project in Costa Rica.

TXI recently released its fiscal third quarter results, revealing a narrowing loss due to an increase in cement shipments.

The US Geological Survey has released its annual Mineral Commodity Summaries for January 2011, revealing a trend of low construction spending levels.

Titan Group’s subsidiary Roanoke Cement Co. has recently been awarded its fifth consecutive Energy Star from the EPA, as a reflection of its investment in reducing not only its own energy consumption, but that of its clients too.

Portland-limestone cement, a new cement that produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions during its manufacturing and in its application, is now included in Canadian building codes and available to the marketplace.

Cemex has announced that it is to sell US$600 million notes due 2016 and US$600 million due to 2018, as it attempts to pay its debt.

Alpha Natural Resources has made a strategic equity investment in ‘green cement’ manufacturers CERATECH, Inc. The Virginia-based company’s cement utilises 95% of waste flyash from electric utilities.

The Portland Cement Association has announced its approval of the “Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011”, which will bar the use of the Clean Air Act in the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

During a press conference in Lisbon, Cimpor’s Chief Financial Officer Antonio Varela spoke of the company’s plans to open a new plant in Brazil and explore opportunities in Morocco and Mozambique.