The Americas

Texas Industries (TXI) has acquired ready mix and aggregate operations of Cemex USA that serve the Austin metropolitan market.

The PCA has forecast a marginal cement consumption improvement for the next two years. However, significant government policy risks could affect the near, long-range forecast.

Potomac Landfill, Inc. is using Powerscreen equipment to sort the recyclables from the waste at its construction landfill site in Virginia.

On 22 July, Cemex announced that consolidated net sales increased by 9% during the second quarter of 2011 to approximately US$4.1 billion versus the comparable period in 2010.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has accepted Lafarge’s FEIS application.

Scientists at Blue World Crete, Inc. disclose details of their newest geo-polymer binding agent, Geo-Blue Crete II.

The Lehigh Permanente cement plant has announced that its new activated carbon injection system is to reduce mercury emissions by as much as 90%.

Cemex plays a major role in a US$66 million airport expansion project in Panama.

Ed Sullivan, Portland Cement Association, USA, provides an overview of projections for the US economic recovery and its impact on the construction industry.

A fight over cement markets in the Dominican Republic has drawn the Jamaican minister of Industry and Commerce into defending home-based exporter Caribbean Cement Company Ltd, whose quality standards have been contested in the rival market.

Lafarge has announced the sale of its cement and concrete assets in the southeast United States to the Colombia-based conglomerate Cementos Argos for an enterprise value of US$760 million.

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.