Pakistan: Cement despatches, including both domestic despatches and exports, rose by 16% year-on-year to 12.2Mt in the first quarter of the 2026 financial year, up from 10.5Mt in the same period in 2024, according to data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). Domestic sales grew by 15% to 9.57Mt, compared to 8.32Mt in 2024, while exports jumped by 21% to 2.59Mt, up from 2.14Mt. On a monthly basis, dispatches surged by 31% in July and 13.5% in August 2025, before moderating to 7% growth in September 2025, when volumes reached 4.25Mt compared with 3.97Mt a year earlier. In September 2025, local sales rose by 14% to 3.42Mt, up from 2.99Mt in September 2024, while exports dropped by 15% to 0.83Mt, against 0.98Mt a year earlier. /Global Cement

Zimbabwe: Khayah Cement has secured a US$60m rescue package from East African producer Hima Cement after creditors and shareholders unanimously approved a corporate recovery plan. The agreement will allow for debt settlement, refurbishment of the Harare plant and a return to sustainable operations, according to The Sunday Mail. Corporate rescue practitioner Balisa Mbano said the approval marked a major turning point for the company, which has struggled with debt and operational inefficiencies. “The positive is that all creditors will be paid down in a compromise amount and settled immediately. This gives the company immediate relief and the breathing space to focus on growth rather than liabilities,” he said. In the short term, Khayah Cement will stop clinker imports and instead produce locally, securing supply reliability. The phased investment will cover both working capital and capital expenditure. The full implementation of the recovery plan is targeted within six months, with completion targeted for March 2026. Khayah Cement operates a 450,000t/yr plant in Harare, and has faced foreign currency shortages, high operational costs and equipment breakdowns in recent years, leading to its placement under corporate rescue in 2022. /Global Cement

Pakistan: The Punjab government has approved the construction of a new Gharibwal Cement plant in Chakwal. The Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman described the approval of a new cement plant in Chakwal as a milestone for industrial growth that would support the construction sector and stabilise the local economy. /Global Cement

India: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has approved a reduction in GST on cement, lowering the rate from 28% to 18%. The new rate will come into effect from 22 September 2025, a move expected to reduce capital costs for infrastructure projects and improve cash flows for developers. The structural boost is expected to accelerate cement demand growth to 8–9% per year over the next two financial years from 6-8% previously estimated. /Global Cement

Japan: UBE Mitsubishi Cement (MUCC), Osaka Gas, Daigas Energy and Seibu Gas have successfully tested natural gas co-firing at MUCC’s Kyushu Plant in the Kurosaki area. Using a newly developed burner, the companies replaced 40% of coal with natural gas at commercial scale without affecting kiln stability, product quality or environmental performance. The burner was developed using MUCC’s coal combustion expertise alongside Osaka Gas and Daigas Energy’s gas combustion and simulation technologies, with Seibu Gas supplying natural gas from LNG tank trucks. MUCC said the trial paves the way for full-scale implementation and supports future use of e-methane in cement kilns. MUCC aims to cut CO₂ emissions by 40% by 2030, compared to 2013 levels, and achieve group-wide carbon neutrality by 2050 under its medium-term management strategy “Infinity with Will 2025 – MUCC Sustainable Plan 1st STEP.” /Global Cement

Libya: Officials have launched construction of a US$600m cement plant in Nalut, Um al-Baqal, according to The Libya Observer. The plant will produce 12,000t/day of cement from two lines, with plans to expand to 14,000t/day, and will manufacture Portland, sulphate-resistant and high-strength cement. Nalut mayor Abdulwahab Hajjaj said the project would support the local economy, create jobs and strengthen national growth. Project director Jumaa Khalifa Abdullah said it was one of four investment initiatives in the region. 25% of the plant’s capital will be offered for public and foreign investment at US$2.14/share, with the company expected to list on Libya’s stock exchange. /Global Cement

Türkiye: Limak Çimento will expand the solar power plant under construction in Kurtalan, Siirt, to meet the electricity demands of its cement plant, according to Energy Diary. The project, divided into five units, will increase its capacity from 9.91MW to 15.9MW with the addition of 6MW. The project site will increase from 109,000m² to 241,000m². The expansion will reportedly employ 10 people during construction and five in the operation phase. /Global Cement

India: Andhra Cements has commissioned a 6MW solar power plant at its cement plant in Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh, according to India Infoline. The project forms part of the company’s initiative to reduce reliance on conventional energy sources and promote sustainable operations. /Global Cement

Saudi Arabia: Southern Province Cement recorded net profits of US$11.2m in the first half of 2025, down by 59% year-on-year from US$27.7m. Revenues fell by 11% to US$111m from US$124m in the first half of 2024. In the second quarter of 2025, profits dropped by 50% year-on-year to US$4m, while revenues declined by 9% to US$52m. Quarter-on-quarter, profits fell by 44% from US$7.2m and revenues by 11% from US$59m. /Global Cement

Dangote Cement has announced the imminent commissioning of its 3Mt/yr grinding plant in Ivory Coast, which it says will take place in the third quarter of 2025. The company says that the investment is part of its drive to enhance its regional presence in West Africa. The company’s CEO Arvin Pathak noted that the plant will streamline and provide flexibility to Dangote’s exports in West Africa, which grew by 18.2% in the first half of 2025. Dangote Cement is Africa’s largest cement producer, with a capacity of 48.6Mt/yr. It already operates in more than 10 African markets, including Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo and Ghana. /Global Cement

JK Lakshmi Cement and Chettinad Cement are reportedly bidding to buy Deccan Cements. The company is hoping to obtain an enterprise value of US$360m, or US$90/t of production capacity, in any potential sale, according to the Economic Times newspaper. Deccan Cements operates a 1.8Mt/yr integrated plant at Bhavanipuram in Nalgonda, Telangana. /Global Cement

Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan exported 449,800t of cement and clinker in the first half of 2025 according to the State Customs Committee. This marks a 33.8% rise compared to the same period of 2024. The growth reflects rising demand for Azerbaijani cement in neighbouring and regional markets, particularly as reconstruction and infrastructure projects accelerate in countries such as Georgia and Türkiye, as well as parts of Central Asia. The committee said that cement products accounted for 0.22% of the country’s total exports and 1.65% of non-oil exports during the reporting period. It added that this increase supports Azerbaijan’s broader strategy to boost non-oil exports and diversify its economy. /Global Cement

India: JSW Cement has launched CHD Waterguard, a water-repellent slag-based cement designed for the high-moisture conditions of southern India. The product uses ‘Turbo Gel’ Technology, which the company says ensures a polymer-enriched ‘hydration matrix’ for improved workability and compressive strength. CEO Nilesh Narwekar said “The tropical climate of Southern India, with its intense humidity, coastal salt air and heavy monsoons, compromises the longevity of concrete structures. With CHD Waterguard, we’re offering a specialised solution that actively protects homes from seepage, dampness, salt corrosion and moisture-related damage.” /Global Cement

India: Shree Cement has commissioned a 6MW solar power plant at its Roorkee unit in Uttarakhand, located next to its existing cement operations. This raises total solar capacity at the site to 7MW. The project cost US$1.8m, and brings the company’s total solar footprint to 294MW. It is expected to offset 6500t/yr of CO₂ emissions. /Global Cement

Morocco: Cement sales are expected to reach 6.8Mt by the end of June 2025, up 10% from 6.2Mt in the same period in 2024, according to the Ministry of National Land Use Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy. Sales by members of the Professional Association of Cement Manufacturers (APC) – Asment Temara, Ciments de l Atlas, Ciments du Maroc, LafargeHolcim Maroc and Novacim – totalled 0.83Mt in June 2025, up by 12% year-on-year from 0.75Mt. /Global Cement