The Americas

Lafarge has announced that it will receive Brazilian cement assets in exchange for the sale to Votorantim on 3 February 2010 of its 17.28% stake in the Portuguese Cimpor group.

US-based McIlvaine Company has published new forecasts on air pollution control systems now becoming even more essential to meet stricter standards and regulations.

Lafarge is creating the potential for increased shipping traffic along the Saginaw River following the acquisition of two docks in Saginaw and Bay City.

Cemex has announced the sale of 12 quarries in the US to SPO Partners & Co.

Infrastructure Materials Corp. has announced the acquisition of Canadian Infrastructure Corp. (CIC), a privately-held company, which owns three cement grade limestone properties.

Having failed to impress Cimpor with its original bid back in December, CSN has made an alternate offer.

Things begin to look up for Ash Grove, Cemex Davenport closes and Holcim invests in clean energy.

Brazilian conglomerate Carmago Correa Group has acquired a 22.17% stake in Cimpor while CSN files antitrust complaint against Votorantim.

USGS figures for cement production, export and import in November 2009.

Michigan-based Geocycle is increasing production of AFs for local cement manufacturers.

Cemex has announced that consolidated net sales decreased 17% in the fourth quarter of 2009, to US$3.4 billion, and decreased 28% for the full year, to US$14.5 billion, versus the comparable periods in 2008.

Extracts from the United States Geological Society Mineral Commodity summary, January 2010

The United States Geological Survey: Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2010, has been released. The cement section has been reproduced here.

Headwaters Incorporated, a diversified building products company dedicated to improving sustainability by transforming underutilised resources into valuable products, has announced results for its 31 December 2009 quarter, the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

Lafarge has sold to Votorantim its 17.28% interest in Cimpor. The transaction will be completed in principle through an exchange of the Cimpor shares held by Lafarge for certain of Votorantim's assets in Brazil.