ESPAÑA_ Cementos Portland valora su cementera en venta en EE UU en 661 millones

Cementos Portland Valderrivas ha reconocido la puesta en venta durante el tercer trimestre del año de su filial Giant Cement Holding, con la que opera en Estados Unidos y Canadá, y cuyos activos han sido valorados en 661,3 millones.

La subsidiaria de FCC informó ayer a la CNMV sobre el arranque "de forma activa" de los trabajos para encontrar comprador. Sin embargo, el presidente de la citada FCC, Baldomero Falcones, ya avanzó el pasado mes de junio que el grupo había encargado un estudio para desinvertir en las tres plantas cementeras que Giant tiene en la costa este de EE UU. En ese momento cuantificó el importe que podría obtener por ellas entre los 600 y 700 millones de dólares. Algo más adelante, a finales de septiembre, aseguró que contaba con seis ofertas.

Un pasivo de 451 millones

La decisión de desprenderse del negocio cementero en Norteamérica ha motivado que Portland lo clasifique como actividad discontinuada en los resultados de los nueve primeros meses del año. Como consecuencia, se han cuantificado los activos y pasivos no corrientes para la venta en 661,3 y 451,3 millones, respectivamente.

Dentro del importe correspondiente a los pasivos se ha incluido la deuda financiera neta de Giant Cement Holding, que al cierre del tercer trimestre se situaba en 317,5 millones de euros.

Desde el inicio del presente ejercicio económico, el resultado después de impuestos de Giant Cement arroja una pérdida de nueve millones.

Asimismo se han excluido del resultado financiero los flujos netos de efectivo atribuibles a esta firma, por un importe de 23,5 millones.

Giant Cement, propiedad de Cementos Portland en un 99,75%, es la cuarta compañía cementera de la costa este norteamericana y posee tres plantas, en Carolina del Sur, Pensilvania y Maine. En ellas produce cemento, hormigón y áridos utilizando deshechos como combustible.

El parón en Túnez afecta a las cuentas

Los resultados de Cementos Portland a 30 de septiembre arrojan una pérdida de 7,2 millones de euros, frente al beneficio de 4,3 millones conseguido en el mismo periodo de 2010.

La crisis generalizada en el sector de los materiales de construcción ha impactado en un gigante del cemento cuyos ingresos descendieron el 17,1%, pasando de los 581,2 millones de los primeros nueve meses de 2010, a los 482,1 millones actuales.

La empresa suma el paro temporal de la actividad de producción y comercialización en Túnez a sus problemas en España.

ESPAÑA: El consumo de cemento mengua un 16% hasta octubre

El consumo de cemento se situó durante los diez primeros meses del ejercicio en 17,6 millones de toneladas, lo que muestra un descenso del 15,6% con respecto a las 20,9 millones de toneladas del mismo periodo del ejercicio anterior.

Según informó la patronal del sector Oficemen, el consumo de cemento está acelerando su caída después de un leve repunte a principios de año. Así, el mes de octubre ha sido el peor en 27 años con un consumo de cemento de 1,5 millones de toneladas.

Como consecuencia de esta tendencia, la producción de cemento ha disminuido un 21,5% en comparación con el mismo mes de 2010, alcanzando los 1,8 millones de toneladas. La patronal explica que sólo las exportaciones consiguen mantenerse en cifras similares a las del pasado ejercicio, mientras que las importaciones se reducen un 37,8% con cerca de 1 millón de toneladas hasta octubre.

Según el director general de Oficemen, Aniceto Zaragoza, “es urgente que el Gobierno que salga de las urnas revise los recortes que el Plan de Estabilidad tiene establecidos en obra pública para los próximos años y fomente actuaciones para facilitar la compra de vivienda".

En su opinión, "es el momento de generar empleo, no de destruirlo y sabemos que por cada millón de euros que se recorta en infraestructuras se destruyen 18 puestos de trabajo”.

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi cement industry poised for upturn

Saudi Arabia’s cement industry, the largest in the Middle East, has largely expanded this year and growth it expected to continue due to a sharp rise in construction projects, the Gulf country’s largest bank said on Tuesday.

Contract awards through the first three quarters of 2011 reached SR179.5 billion, a staggering 125% increase over the same period last year, National Commercial Bank (NCB) said its weekly bulletin, sent to Emirates 24/7.

Production in September rose by 27% compared to levels in September of 2010, thereby reaching 3.2 million tonnes, it said.

As for clinker production, the 13 locally operating companies produced nearly 3.41 million tonnes during the same month, Over the first nine months of 2011, cement production has risen by 11.8% while clinker production increased by 8.5%, the report showed.

Furthermore, cement exports are still on the rise climbing by 5.8% over the last three quarters, representing Al-Jouf’s recent regional penetration, it said.

“Local deliveries are at 97% and 96% for cement and clinker productions, respectively, highlighting the short supply experienced in the market…. on the equity front, the cement sector rose an impressive 20.3% YTD. As the third quarter came to an end, corporate earnings have reflected positively.”

Citing balance sheets, the report said the10 listed cement companies have collectively generated SR982.2 million during the third quarter of this year, expanding net profits by around 26.8%.

“The latest addition to the cement sector, Hail Cement, witnessed a 1.3x over subscription, emphasizing the confidence of investors in the industry,” it said.

“The Saudi government is planning to award more project licenses to accommodate the growing demand in the domestic market, which will help boost the industry’s competitiveness.”

INDIA: Jaypee Cement with special packaging soon

Phulwarisharif block may be located very close to the state capital, but awareness about the maternal health services provided by the government is very low among the scheduled caste (SC) and Muslim sections of the population in the block.

This was stated by the executive director of the Centre for Health and Resource Management (CHARM), Dr Shakeel. "They are aware of cash benefits under the Janani Suraksha Yojana, but are not aware of many services which health functionaries like ANMs have to render during antenatal check-ups. Post-natal care is not being provided at all at the Health Sub-Centres (HSCs). Home visits by health service providers are not in vogue," he said while speaking at a workshop organized by CHARM here on Thursday.

AFRICA: Kenya's Portland Cement cuts exposure to FX losses

East African Portland Cement has converted part of a yen-denominated loan into dollars to reduce its exposure to foreign exchange losses following a surge in the Japanese currency, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Ranked as the No.2 cement maker in Kenya, Portland's earnings have been hurt for three straight years by huge foreign exchange losses, after the global financial crisis of 2008 sent the yen on a sharp ascent.

Business Daily quoted Portland's Managing Director, Kephar Tande, as saying the firm swapped a quarter of its 3.6 billion shilling ($38.5 million) loan for dollars from yen in the first half of 2011, before converting another 25 percent tranche of the total in July, in a deal arranged by a local commercial bank.

The volatility in the exchange rate between the shilling and the dollar had been lower compared with that between the shilling and the yen, Tande told the newspaper, meaning that the foreign exchange losses had been cut by 100 million shillings since the swaps.

The firm lost of 119.06 million shillings ($1.30 mln) in its year ended last June after a loss of 338.57 million shillings in the year earlier period, after a higher unrealised foreign exchange loss offset an 8 percent growth in sales revenue. ($1 = 93.375 Kenyan Shillings)

AFRICA: NAMIBIA: Industrialization of Namibia – the case of Ohorongo Cement

There are a number of industries and businesses being established in Namibia by investors. I found it necessary to look at and write something about these industries and businesses because without them, it will be difficult if not impossible for Namibia to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.

After having considered these industries, I have decided to limit my comments on one only – and I decided on Ohorongo Cement (Pty) Ltd. 

The reasons being: 

(a) This can be continuation of my earlier comments on cement production in Namibia.

(b) Ohorongo Cement spent billions of dollars to establish their plant and this plant became a reality and so far the only one in Namibia. 

(c) Its existence is being threatened by uncontrolled importation of cement into the country.

It is really disappointing to note that after we welcomed the building of the cement plant in Namibia by Ohorongo Cement, we are not giving it the protection it needs in order to establish itself and recover all the billions that were invested in that venture. 

The company did not only limit its investments to building the cement plant but entered into equally important ventures in the country. Here I would like to mention some of these ventures that are important to Namibia and its people. 

Ohorongo Cement in order to contribute to the development of the town of Otavi, joined forces with Otavi Town Council and business community to establish Ohorongo Otavi Community Trust (OOCT). 

This was done with the aim of contributing to the development of Otavi and improve the standards of living of the people of the town.

In this regard, the OOCT identified three main areas which has potential to improve the living standards of the population of Otavi. 

These are: 

(1) Support to medical professionals serving the Otavi community.

(2) Support to those who play a role in educating the youth of Otavi. 

(3) Support for initiatives which upgrade Otavi infrastructure and amenities.

In this regard, the OOCT supports disabled people as well as training of medical personnel and providing medical equipment. It also supports Otavi Town Council to develop Otavi’s infrastructure. 

The cement plant itself is the most modern one in Africa with new equipment, and the latest technology, meeting all standards in terms of emission, electricity and technical requirements, 30% reduction of electrical consumption, saving water consumption, etc.

Ohorongo Cement adds value to the raw material to the finished product within Namibia and gives preference to Namibian service providers and suppliers. 

The disadvantages of importation of cement can be, among others, providing temporary cheaper prices, limited value addition to products (if any), limited job creation, outflow of currency etc. 

On the other hand, production in Namibia can provide consistent sale prices, entire added value creation in the country, direct and indirect job creation, strengthening balance of payment, transfer of knowledge to Namibians through constant job creation and education, etc. 

It is said that currently 264 people are employed at the plant but this number is expected to rise to 300. The company is also involving itself in other activities in addition to cement production such as debushing, outsourcing certain services, making protective clothing, etc. These extra activities also lead to more employment creation and it is said that more than 2 000 people may be employed. 

It is also necessary to mention here that the company is training its employees both in Namibia and abroad. 

Quite a number of employees were trained in Germany, both at its cement plant and other German cement plants. 

These and other activities of Ohorongo Cement are commendable – therefore it is just proper to protect its activities so as not to jeopardize its production in the country. We should not allow the situation that killed the Cheetah Cement initiative to repeat itself. 

While I am not against any locally produced cement competing with the cement produced by Ohorongo Cement, it is not in order to allow imported cement to destroy our own cement production. Importation of cement from China such as Conch Cement, must not be permitted. The Ministry of Trade and Industry must stop the importation of such cement. 

I am aware and fully understand that China is one of the countries that helped us a lot to liberate Namibia and it is our best friend. However, our best Chinese friends must understand that we, in Namibia, are desperately trying to build our industries and cannot afford to invite investors to invest billions of dollars in our country and at the same time allow such investors to close down their businesses just because we do not protect them against bad practices. 

After all, according to the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, China is refusing or is unwilling to buy products from Namibia and why should their cement be imported in Namibia just to kill our infant industries. 

Even if we buy products from abroad, no matter from which country, it must be products that will not kill our infant industries and initiatives. 

If this practice of importing cement from Conch Cement in China, or cements from any other country for that matter, is not prohibited, I am afraid that Ohorongo Cement will close down and many jobs will be lost and all other developments that Ohorongo is trying to bring to this country will be stopped. The country and its people will be the losers. 

We can never succeed in fulfilling the objectives of Vision 2030 if we allow our infant industries to be closed down because of our inability to protect them. 

I have confidence in our Government and the Minister of Trade and Industry and I am sure he is capable of taking appropriate measures to protect our infant industries. The sooner that is done, the better for our infant industries.

INDIA:Ambuja Cement can merge with Holcim India: High Court

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has paved the way for amalgamation of Ambuja Cement India Pvt Ltdwith Holcim (India) Pvt Ltd, allowing their joint plea for merger. 

A bench of Justice P K Bhasin said both the firms, which belong to Holcim Group of Companies, have fulfilled all legal requirements including holding of the meetings of different stakeholders 

"Sanction is hereby granted to the scheme of amalgamation of the Transferor Company (Ambuja Cement) with the transferee company (Holcim)," said Justice Bhasin, allowing for the merger and directing that the Registrar of Companies be intimated with the merger order within four weeks. 

"Upon scheme becoming effective and from appointed date the Transferor Company shall stand dissolved without being wound up," Justice Bhasin added. 

He also said there was no legal impediment in the scheme of amalgamation as Ministry of Corporate Affairs too has said that it has no objection to the proposed amalgamation. 

The court said, "Having regard to the averments made in the petition, the material placed on record, including the Scheme of Amalgamation, and the affidavits filed on behalf of the two Companies seeking sanction of this Court and the no objections given by the Official Liquidator as well as the Regional Director (Northern Region), this Court is satisfied that the prayer made in the petition deserves to be allowed. 

"There is no legal impediment to sanction the proposed scheme of amalgamation, which is annexed with the petition."

PAKISTAN: Pakistani cement export being targeted by Indian NTBs

KARACHI - It will be a case of intellectual dishonesty if our experts continue to vehemently favour granting of MFN to India while ignoring deliberately the case of Pakistani cement and textile which have been blocked by Indian government through Pakistan specific NTBs.

The cement industry in Pakistan qualifies for the status of being a targeted victim of Indian NTBs as no other country could be at advantage of supplying cement to Indian markets which have demand whereas the Indian cement industry does not have the capacity.

While there is a clear division between manufacturers and traders and later being vocal for MFN in Pakistan while on Indian side one mostly see bigger goods manufacturing group waiting and advocating same. This on one hand, clearly shows the designs of Indian government and proves fear of Pakistani industry on the other.

Interestingly, the argument of MFN status to India is mostly supported by the traders’ lobby in Pakistan while the Indian enthusiasts of MFN are mostly the manufacturing industry like TATA, Birla and Mittal etc. 

According to expert mostly cement manufacturing plants in Pakistan located in the northern part of country cannot export by sea due to high inland freight whereas limited capacity of train allow limited exports.

He said that India is already importing clinker and gypsum from Pakistan by road through trucks; therefore cement can also be exported similarly. Exporting cement by road is feasible for Pakistani exporters as well as for the Indian buyers in bordering provinces as they will get higher quality cement at much cheaper rates, he added.

Sources in cement industry disclose that obtaining quality certification from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is a major issue for Pakistani exporters as BIS issues licenses for a year or two years to the exporters after visiting the factory premises and carrying out lab tests. BIS conducts a mandatory quality inspection visit once in two years’ time before it can issue renewal. He added that Indian inspecting authorities use delaying tactics and last scheduled inspection visit of BIS representative to Pakistan has been delayed for more than nine months as all Indian officials have to seek approval from their Ministry of Interior and the process takes a long time. 

The government had proposed to the Indians to allow Pakistani trucks to carry cement to the Indian side of the border where transhipment should be carried out to Indian trucks, but they rejected this proposal on the grounds of absence of parking area on their side.

The facility has now been developed by Indians close to the border which can be used for transhipment area. It should become operational now if the Indians are sincere in free trade, a cement manufacturer said.

He claimed that Pakistani cement is better in quality than Indian cement and also cheaper. The Indian government creates hurdles in free trade to protect its local industries, he added.

In 2008 some of the Indian cement manufacturers as per Indian press reports demanded of Indian govt to impose ban on Pakistani cement for being a security threat. Pakistani experts believe that since those Indian businessmen who show interest in Pakistani products the Govt very viciously targets them for being involved in anti-state activities.

INDIA:India Cements captive mine to be ready by Jan

India Cements has acquired a coal mine in Indonesia, which is expected to go on stream by January 2012, for $20 million. The company is also in the process of setting up a 50 Megawatt power plant near Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

The coal mine acquisition is part of its plan to integrate its supply chain and to reduce exposure to the fluctuating coal price internationally.

“The coal mine acquisition is a strategic decision, it will reduce our exposure to the fluctuating coal price internationally,” said N Srinivasan, vice chairman and managing director, India Cements.

The concern for the industry and for the company is sluggish growth of cement, increase in fuel and power cost, higher interest rate, he added. While the input cost have increased 7-8 per cent, output cost rose only two per cent.

At present 55-60 per cent of the coal requirement is being met by import.

India Cements is one of the country’s largest cement manufacturers with a capacity of around 15 million tonnes.

The company reported around 30 per cent increase in net sales to Rs 1,092 crore as against Rs 843 crore during the same quarter last year. Net profit increased 105 per cent to Rs 70 crore as compared with Rs 34 crore a year ago.

Srinivasan said despite a four per cent drop in demand across south India, the company managed to post good profit. Its capacity utilisation was around 68 per cent, due to the excess capacity in South India, which is currently around 100 million tonnes.

Between August and September 2011, the overall sales of the cement industry in Tamil Nadu dropped 0.42 per cent, while in Kerala it was 0.24 per cent, Karnataka 2.19 per cent. Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest drop at 17.06 per cent drop.

AFRICA: LontohCoal enters export market with first shipment to Ethiopia

South African junior LontohCoal shipped its first 27 500 t of anthracite on Wednesday, marking the company’s entry into the coal export market.

The shipment is headed for China-based Guangdong Chuanhui Group subsidiaries Huang Shan Cement and CH Clinker in Ethiopia via Djibouti.

The anthracite was initially scheduled to be delivered in September, but was delayed because of difficulties acquiring trucks and a ship

CEO Tshepo Kgadima said that the shipment marked LontohCoal’s entry into the South African export market. Up until now, the company has only been supplying coal to the domestic market.

LontohCoal signed a two-year HK$800-million agreement with Guangdong Chuanhui Group for the delivery of 480 000 t/y of coal.

The anthracite coal was transported by truck from its Kwasa Anthracite colliery, in Mpumalanga, to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal for storage.

The 27 500 t shipment will increase to 40 000 t/m. This will require a fleet of 60 trucks.

Meanwhile, the company has also agreed to a five-year supply contract to supply 50 000 t/m of anthracite coal to mainland China.

LontohCoal said it was also negotiating long-term off-take contracts for anthracite and coking coal with several other Chinese coal companies and has launched an aggressive production expansion plan by increasing the yearly output of anthracite coal to 1.2-million tons this year.

Further, the Hlobane View Colliery, in KwaZulu-Natal, will start production in the first quarter of 2012, with a targeted yearly output of 1.2-million tons.

AFRICA: NIGERIA: Dangote’s New Cement Factory Shores up Local Production

Cement importation in Nigeria may begin to wind down soon, as the management of Dangote cement has concluded arrangements to finally launch its new 6 million metric tonnes per annum capacity cement plant in Ibese, Ogun State.

Dangote Group revealed that production at Gboko plant would soon be boosted, as the company has almost concluded its expansion process in the plant to hit 4 million metric tonnes per annum, as against its current capacity of 3.5 million metric tonnes.

The Group added that with four million tonnes in Gboko, about 10 million in Obajana, six million in Ibese, the Dangote cement production is expected to hit about 20 million tonnes by the end of this year, as against the country’s demand of 17 million metric tonnes of cement per annum.

“By implication, what Dangote Group alone will be producing will be far more than the country’s demand, giving room for the Group to commence exportation of cement to other African countries,” Dangote Group said.

The Group stated that by having cement plant in 14 different African countries, Dangote Cement has emerged as the African’s best cement manufacturing company.

“Among others, Dangote has its presence in the following African countries: Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Congo (Brazzaville), Ethiopia, Cameroun (Grinding), Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, Senegal among others,” the Group said.

The move, according to the company, was to ensure that African remains self-sufficient in cement production and in making the products easily available and at highly affordable costs to the end users, saying that the expansion of the Group would surely be to the benefits of the shareholders.

Special Adviser to the President of Dangote group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, Mr. Joseph Makoju, recently said the increased production would lead to more revenue for the company and the shareholders would be better for it.

According to him, “Very soon, the new lines in Obajana and Ibeshe will commence full production. By then the local capacity and output will be far more than the local demand of cement and that will set the pace for exportation of our products. This will lead to increased products, more revenue for the company and better returns for the shareholders.”

In all these, he said the shareholders were the ultimate beneficiaries as they had bought into a company with a solid future that would surely benefit them through robust returns on investments policy.

PARAGUAY: Garantizan provisión de cemento hasta diciembre

El titular de la Industria Nacional del Cemento (INC), Edgar Acosta, indicó que la producción cubrirá las demandas hasta diciembre de este año. En caso de que aumente, se buscará satisfacer con la importación del exterior.

“Venimos diciendo que la INC puede dar entre 45.000 a 50.000 bolsas por día hasta diciembre. Esa es la capacidad real y estamos optimistas de decir que esa cantidad se va a mantener. Si el mercado necesita más, orillaría los 70.000 y esa diferencia tendrá que ser cubierta por el cemento importado”, indicó en conversación con la 650 AM.

Acosta indicó que la depuración de la lista de distribuidores ayudó a que se pueda cumplir con al demanda del cemento y evitar la especulación.

“La depuración de la lista de distribuidores, al haber sacado 300 distribuidores, fue una decisión acertada. Presentamos nuevas exigencias, como fotos de los depósitos, al día con pagos fiscales y sociales como IPS, y a raíz de eso, muchísimos ni se han presentado”, relató.

El titular expresó que duda mucho que los distribuidores actuales especulen con el precio del cemento puesto que los mismos querrán depurar su imagen. Agregó que la abundancia de cemento importado también ayuda a que el precio del cemento por bolsa se mantenga entre G. 50.000 y G. 55.000. 

Capacitación 

Edgar Acosta se mostró a favor de la capacitación de técnicos de la INC argumentando que ello significará ingresos para el ente.

“Se debe hacer cursos de capacitación para los técnicos, es una inversión. Trajimos un peruano que nos costó 25 millones de guaraníes. Ahora la INC está teniendo con 5 mil bolsas más por día alrededor que genera 180 millones de guaraníes más”, finalizó.

FRANCE: Ciments Français prévoit des résultats détériorés en 2011

Ciments Français a annoncé lundi prévoir pour 2011 une détérioration de ses résultats en ligne avec ses performances des neuf premiers mois, marqués par une baisse de son résultat brut d'exploitation et de son chiffre d'affaires.

La filiale d'Italcementi précise aussi qu'elle mettra en oeuvre à la fin de l'année des mesures d'économies pour faire face aux incertitudes attendues pour le secteur en 2012, année qui devrait être marquée par une certaine stabilité, voire une augmentation des prix du ciment.

Ciments Français a accusé une baisse de 15,6% de son résultat brut d'exploitation courant sur la période janvier-septembre, à 563,1 millions d'euros, tandis que son chiffre d'affaires consolidé a reculé de 3,8% à 2.938,1 millions.

Sur le seul troisième trimestre, le RBE courant chute de 21,3% et le chiffre d'affaires recul de 7,9%.

Le groupe précise que ses volumes vendus ont reculé dans ses trois métiers (ciment/clinker, granulats et béton prêt à l'emploi) au troisième trimestre, sous l'effet conjugué du regain de tensions économiques dans les pays industrialisés et des difficultés persistantes du marché égyptien.

Ciments Français dit s'attendre à une certaine stabilité de ses résultats au quatrième trimestre, des améliorations dans les pays émergents - excepté l'Egypte - devant compenser les détériorations dans les pays développés.

Sa maison mère Italcementi, le premier cimentier italien, a de son côté annoncé à Milan une baisse de 15,2% de son Ebitda courant sur neuf mois, en raison d'une hausse de ses coûts d'exploitation et d'effets de change négatifs, et a dit anticiper une baisse encore plus marquée au quatrième trimestre.

NEPAL: Cement, steel dearer

Prices of major construction materials like cement and steel continue to increase despite low demand in the market. Price of bricks, however, has come down due to low demand and increased supplies from Tarai districts.

Cement has become dearer by Rs 50 to Rs 60 per sack (50 kg) depending on brands. Similarly, price of steel has increased by as much as Rs 22 per kg.

Dhurba Thapa, vice-president of Cement Manufacturer´s Association of Nepal, said price of cement is increasing despite falling demand in the market due to rise in prices of raw materials and high transportation costs. 

Price of clinker - the major raw material for cement - has increased to Rs 4,200 per tons from less than Rs 3,000 per tons recorded a few months ago. At present, cement is available in range of Rs 550 to Rs 710 per sack depending on strength.

Bal Krishna Shrestha, immediate past president of Nepal Steel Rolling Mills Association, said price of steel is increasing despite falling demand in the market due to heavy rise in price of fuel, furnace oil and iron billets. While price of furnace oil has increased by Rs 10 per liter, price of billets has increased by almost $50 per tons. 

Rise in labor cost is also one of the key factors behind rise in steel prices, according to Shrestha.

“Our Indian suppliers are reluctant to export billets because there is high demand for construction materials in India itself. This is affecting steel prices in the domestic market,” he added.

Shrestha, who is also the managing director of Hama Steels, also informed that his company raised price of Hama brand of steel by Rs 2 per kg effective from Tuesday.

Price of steel in the market ranges from Rs 72 to Rs 80 per kg, excluding Rs 1 per kg excise duty and 13 percent VAT.

However, price of bricks have gone down by Rs 500 to Rs 700 per 1,000 units. Price of ´A´ grade bricks has dropped to Rs 8,000 per 1,000 units from Rs 8,700 for the same quantity recorded a month ago. Similarly, price of ´B´ grade bricks has come down to Rs 7,000 per 1,000 units from last month´s Rs 7,500 per 1,000 units.

Tirtha Man Damaru, proprietor of Choma Ganesh Itta Bhatta Udhyog, attributes the drop in prices to decline in construction activities and steady rise in supply of bricks from Tarai districts.

COLOMBIA: El muelle cementero con nueva carga

El muelle cementero de Buenaventura empezó a manejar graneles sólidos.

Cuando comenzó a operar a finales de agosto del 2009, este terminal tenía como objetivo mover solo cemento. No obstante, dejó abierto el espacio para otro tipo de carga. Hoy pasan por este muelle tanto vegetal como mineral.

Esta terminal, del Grupo Argos, movilizó el año pasado 875.000 toneladas y la meta es cerrar este 2011 con 900.000 toneladas, lo que contribuye a la expansión portuaria en Buenaventura.

El muelle cuenta con bandas transportadoras y tres tolvas móviles con capacidad para 15 toneladas. Dispone de dos silos de despacho directo con capacidad para 85 toneladas cada uno, cuatro silos horizontales de almacenamiento con capacidad para 5.000 toneladas cada uno, cuatro silos verticales de almacenamiento con capacidad para 6.700 toneladas cada uno y un cobertizo de almacenamiento con capacidad para unas 15.000 toneladas.

La capacidad total de almacenamiento es de 61.800 toneladas con un movimiento promedio de cargue y descargue de 500 toneladas por hora.

Las directivas de Argos dicen que por tratarse de una terminal nueva, por ahora, no se tienen proyectos de ensanches o ampliaciones.

La concesión de este muelle es a 20 años.

La compañía acaba de formalizar la compra en Estados Unidos de sus nuevos activos cementeros.

Adquirió una planta de cemento en Roberta, Alabama, con una capacidad instalada de 1,6 millones de toneladas al año y otra en Harleyville, Carolina del Sur, con una capacidad instalada de 1,1 millones de toneladas por año.

Así mismo, compró una molienda de clinker en Atlanta, Georgia, con una capacidad instalada de 500.000 toneladas por año y 79 plantas de concreto en Georgia, Carolina del Sur, Alabama y Florida, con una capacidad instalada de 3,3 millones de metros cúbicos de concreto al año.

"Estos activos son una importante fuente de valor para la compañía, tenemos el reto de integrar al personal que ahora hace parte de Argos y crear sinergias de procesos entre las regionales donde tenemos presencia: Colombia, el Caribe y Estados Unidos", dijo el presidente de Cementos Argos, José Alberto Vélez.

VENEZUELA: De Cementos La Vega a Cemento Andino

Para hacer un recorrido histórico del cemento, en Venezuela, necesariamente tenemos que remontarnos al año de 1907; cuando el Ing. Alberto Smith constituyó la "Compañía Anónima Fábrica Nacional de Cementos", que en esa época comenzó con una producción de 50 sacos diarios. Y, nueve años más tarde, en 1916, el señor Carlos Delfino adquirió el 75% del capital de esa empresa y la rebautizó con el nombre: "Cementos La Vega". Esta empresa, con la más avanzada tecnología de aquel entonces, impulsó la producción y logró convertirse en una de las cementeras más importantes de Latinoamérica.

De "Cementos La Vega", según los constructores de aquellos tiempos, salió el cemento con que se construyeron los pilares y las columnas que todavía sostienen el "Nuevo Circo", la urbanización "El Silencio", la Ciudad Universitaria, los bloques de "El 23 de Enero" y el Teresa Carreño, entre otras obras de gran envergadura erigidas en el ámbito caraqueño.

Andando el tiempo, en la década de los ´40, se incrementó la demanda de cemento que requería la industria de la construcción, a nivel nacional. Por lo tanto, fue en esa década cuando apareció el consorcio cementero Vencemos, liderado por el empresario venezolano, don Eugenio Mendoza. Asimismo, en este tiempo apareció, en el occidente del país, la planta "Cementos Táchira", ubicada en el sector La Blanca, estado Táchira.

Para que mis carísimos lectores tengan una idea, aproximada, de cómo ha evolucionado la historia del cemento, en Venezuela, a partir de 1970, estableceremos, muy sucintamente, la siguiente cronología: En 1970, se fundó "Cementos Caribe", en el estado Falcón; en 1993, la Holcim (grupo suizo) compró "Cementos Caribe"; en 1994, Lafarge (grupo francés) compró "Cementos Táchira", más otra porción de la "C.A. Fábrica Nacional de Cementos" y, en este mismo año, Vencemos se convirtió en filial de Cemex (grupo mexicano) y, en 1996, "Cemento Andino" (planta cementera creada a mediados del año 1970) pasó a manos del Estado.

Hay más. En cuanto al número de plantas cementeras y la producción, en millones de toneladas métricas por año (MTM/A), obtuvimos la siguiente información (suministrada por expertos y por informaciones de prensa). A saber: Cemex, en tres Plantas (Anzoátegui, Lara y Zulia) produce 4,6 MTM/A; Holcim, en seis Plantas produce 2,2 MTM/A y Lafarge, en dos Plantas produce 1,5 MTM/A. Significa esto que en Venezuela tenemos un total de once Plantas de cemento que producen un total de 8,3 MTM/A. Aquí no estamos contando la molienda de clinker que tiene Cemex, en el estado Bolívar, ni las trece plantas de concreto, piedra picada y polvillo que tiene Lafarge, en toda Venezuela.

Más todavía. Como noticia fresca, el Ministro de Ciencia y Tecnología e Industrias, Ricardo Menéndez, nos dijo (palabras más, palabras menos) que al cierre del mes de octubre de 2011 la producción de cemento se ubica en 6,4 MTM de las que 2,1 MTM están destinadas a la Gran Misión Vivienda Venezuela (Diario "El Nacional", viernes 28 de octubre de 2011). 

Si lo anterior es cierto (no tenemos porqué dudarlo) y sabiendo que la Planta "Cemento Andino" fue creada para satisfacer la demanda de cemento en el estado Trujillo (calculada en un 20% de la producción nacional); hoy -09.11.2011, cuando escribimos este texto- , a los trujillanos, nos cuesta comprender que en las ferreterías de Monay (lugar donde está ubicada la Planta) no se encuentre un saco de cemento "ni pa´ remedio" (como decía nuestra abuela). 

Echando números, el 20% de 8,3 MTM/A (producidas, según dijimos en el quinto párrafo de este escrito) es 1,66MTM/A y, de acuerdo a lo dicho por el Ministro (citado en el sexto párrafo de esta crónica), el 20% de 6,4 MTM es 1,28 MTM; al cierre del mes de octubre. En otras palabras, "Cemento Andino" debiera estar produciendo, por lo menos 1,66 MTM/A. Lamentablemente, de "Cemento Andino" no tenemos las cifras de producción en MTM/A y, por lo tanto, cualquier análisis cuanti-cualitativo que intentáramos hacerle, a esta Planta, nos haría caer en el terreno de la especulación.

INDIA: Cement shows price strength

Cement prices that have been rising since September after a sluggish run during monsoon may increase by another Rs.10 per 50-kg bag across India barring southern region, as manufacturers exercise production discipline and reduce utilisation levels, according to industry insiders.

Cement prices in the northern and the western regions have increased by Rs.5 to Rs.10 per 50-kg bag in this month. The wholesale prices in the northern region are now close to Rs.280-290 per bag while for the western region they are Rs.270- 280.

Sources said prices were first increased in the western region by Rs.5-10 per bag earlier this month followed by the northern region on Tuesday. Prices in the eastern and southern region remain stable.

Post the recent hike, prices have now reached a similar level across regions.

“We expect a further hike across regions, except the South. This could be to the effect of Rs.10 per-bag,” said an analyst from a domestic brokerage firm who did not wish to be named. The analyst, however, cautioned that price hike does not necessarily indicate there has been a demand uptick.

“The hike is not linked to growth or increase in demand,” he said. 

The analyst expects a southern region-like situation panning out across other regions. Post a free-fall in prices a year ago, cement players in the southern region have been able to hold prices at a high level of Rs.260-270 per bag for the past few months. Industry sources do not expect any price change in this region until January.

This price stability has been brought in through reduction in utilisation level and thus production discipline. Most expect cement manufacturers in other regions will follow suit to maintain cement prices at a certain level through a similar production discipline.

Cement prices in most of the regions had started a downward trend since April as the industry entered a weak quarter period during the monsoon. Post this decline, cement firms took the price hikes of Rs.7-12 in September, depending on the region. 

An industry source said, “The market has responded well to the first hike that we witnessed in September. We need to now see if this hike is equally accepted.” In two months, the industry has witnessed close to five to six rounds of price hikes. Based on recent channel checks, analysts expect the price rise to continue till the end of the strong season period.

Also, with input cost not expected to rise further, price-hikes are expected to shore up cement companies’ margins.

Meanwhile, the September quarter proved to be a weak one for cement companies, with prices touching a low of Rs.120 to Rs.170 per bag in some regions. The positive effect of rise in cement prices, with stable input costs, is expected to reflect in the March quarter of the current fiscal.

PAKISTAN: Pakistan cement off take slightly recovers

The News reported that total cement off take in October stood at 2.94 million tonnes against 2.92 million tonnes recorded during the same period last year.

Analysts said that the contribution of local sales in the overall sales mix continues to increase with the domestic dispatches at 2.09 million tonnes up by 5.8% while exports were recorded at 0.86 million tonnes down by 9.7%. Export volumes in October remained lacklustre, declining by 9.7% to 0.86 million tonnes.

Mr Furqan Ayub an analyst at JS Global said that “Interestingly exports in India have soared to 0.09 million tonnes highest exports since May 2008 from 0.043 million tonnes however the biggest export market continues to be Afghanistan, constituting 57% of the total exports.”

He said that with cement retail price of over PKR 410 to PKR 415 per bag locally incentives to export remain low. Additionally demand itself has jaded in many of the export markets. Thus explaining the 26% drop in exports via sea to 0.28 million tonnes.”

He said that average retention prices approximately rose by 31% in the Q1 of the current fiscal year as the industry remained adamant on passing through the cost to the end user. Considering this resolute attitude of the industry, analysts expect high cement prices are likely to remain firm.

PAKISTAN:Building materials: Hike in prices badly hit construction industry

Unprecedented hike in prices of building materials, bricks, cement, steel, crush, sand, sanitary fittings, pipes, electric wires etc have badly hit the construction industry shattering hopes of at least 60 percent Pakistani house -holds to build a pucca house in their life time.

According to a recent survey the construction cost of a five marla or a ten marla house has been doubled in six months in the provincial capital. Prices of Kiln baked bricks have shot up by almost 100 percent from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 7800 per thousand after levy of 16 percent GST on bricks that kiln owners have refused to pay.

Price of another essential building material cement has spiked up to Rs. 420 - 430 per 50 KG bag, an increase of Rs. 100 per bag due to what cement manufacturers claim increase in input costs and recession in the housing and construction industry.

The rate of ordinary grade steel used in laying roofs, basements and other structures, had also increased to Rs 75,000 per ton from the previous retail price of Rs 55,000 per ton.

Similarly suppliers of sand and crush have also increased prices of their material by about fifty percent.

Experts of construction industry say that housing and construction sector is the second largest job provider to unskilled daily wagers who are facing untold financial hardships after alarming decline in the construction/building activities.

They said it is an irony that the government has identified Housing & Construction Sector among the driver of economical growth as not less than 60 industries are linked to this sector, yet the present Federal and provincial governments have taken no step to check the increase in prices and activate this sector.

According to a World Bank report if the current shortfall of nearly five million proper housing units persists in Pakistan it would lead to new slums in major cities, already a grave problem due to continuous migration of population from rural areas to the urban centres in search of jobs.

Economic experts say that in the current economic scenario, a part of economic revival depends on investment in housing sector: a significant avenue for banks financing and household investment and a factor in long-term economic growth.

A businessman Samiullah Durrani told Business Recorder that the government's persistence to levy GST on rural based kiln owners has aggravated the situation, as the kiln owners have increased prices of bricks without paying any tax to the government. He suggested that the government should reduce duties and taxes on building materials including bricks, cement etc. and advance liberal loans through House Building Corporation to reactivate construction and housing business in the country.