ARGENTINA: Récord histórico en despacho de cemento: 12 millones de toneladas

La Asociación de Fábricas del Cemento Portland aseguró que superarán las 12 millones de toneladas, el nivel más alto de la historia después de los 11,9 millones de 2013. La cifra obedece a un repunte de la construcción que comenzó a verse hace algunos meses.

La entidad mantuvo su previsión, tras corregir el mes pasado su pronóstico anterior, y confirmó que las ventas -tanto para el mercado interno como para el exterior- superarán este año en 620 mil toneladas al registro de 2014, lo cual implicará una suba de 5,4%.

El incremento anual previsto hasta mayo era de 262 mil toneladas, 2,3% respecto de 2014, pero ahora se estima una cifra muy superior, dado el fuerte repunte de la construcción en los últimos meses.

Fuentes oficiales y privadas explican esta evolución por el importante avance en las obras de infraestructura impulsadas con inversión y financiamiento público, como también por el ritmo sostenido de las construcciones privadas (básicamente viviendas), y las financiadas por el plan Procrear.

Más demanda

El cálculo anual de la Afcp se mantuvo pese al ligero retroceso de la demanda local de cemento durante agosto en todo el ámbito nacional (1,6% con respecto al mismo mes del año anterior),

El mercado interno, sumando los volúmenes de producción local e importaciones, destinados tanto a soluciones habitacionales (viviendas terminadas y reparaciones) como al desarrollo de obras públicas, había batido el récord mensual durante julio, al alcanzar las 1.069.622 toneladas.

Durante el mes pasado el consumo local de cemento no llegó a 978 mil toneladas, pero en el acumulado de los primeros ocho meses del año superó las 7,9 millones de toneladas, 688 mil más (9,5%) que en enero-agosto de 2014, concluye la estadística de la entidad que agrupa a las fábricas cementeras que operan en el país, según reporta un cable de Telam.

PERU: Planta cementera de Chile se instalará en Arequipa

l 2017 el precio del cemento en Arequipa podría descender 7%. La reducción se produciría con el ingreso de una nueva empresa cementerallamada "Prima".

La planta será pequeña. Estará ubicada en el puerto de Matarani, provincia de Islay, en un área de 40 mil metros cuadrados. La mano de obra será netamente de la zona. La empresa pretende contratar técnicos y especialistas de Islay, lo que generará puestos de trabajo directos e indirectos. 

El director de la empresa, Pedro Grau Bonet, sostiene que sus principales mercados serán Arequipa, Moquegua y Tacna.

Tiempo de construcción

En el rubro de construcción, las mezclas para una obra suelen hacerse con maquinaria manual o también con lampas. El producto chileno vendrá premezclado de cemento, concreto y hormigón, listo para la construcción.

Según Grau, esta propuesta acelerará el plazo de entrega de la obra hasta en 30%, sobre todo en edificaciones de altura, como edificios y puentes.

"Mientras más alto sea el edificio, la obra costará menos y será entregada más rápido, esos son los beneficios de la tecnología", aclaró. 

Importación 

El puerto de Matarani será utilizado por esta empresa como punto estratégico para la importación de klinker (materia prima base del cemento) proveniente de Asia. 

Prima tendrá un ahorro de costos por traslado, ya que la planta de procesamiento quedará cerca a la zona de desembarque. 

Este ahorro de costos en el proceso de producción también se verá reflejado en el precio final del producto, dice el empresario. 

La planta será construida a fines del siguiente año, en la primera etapa se producirán 140 mil toneladas de cemento anuales, pero dependiendo de la demanda, la producción se duplicará en tonelaje para el sur del país.

"Ya tenemos el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental (EIA) aprobado, solo nos falta poner en marcha la construcción del proyecto que demandará poco más de 15 millones de soles", dice.

Esta es la primera planta chilena de cementos y concreto que apuesta por el mercado peruano.

Clave

Actualmente el precio de una bolsa de cemento de 42.5 kilogramos fluctúa entre 21 y 23 soles.

Para la construcción de un cuarto de 80 metros cuadrados los arequipeños suelen gastar por lo menos 300 bolsas de cemento, sin contar con el acabado.

USA: Cement Consumption Forecast to Grow 5% in 2015 and 6.5% in 2016

Despite volatility in equity markets and concerns about global growth conditions, Portland Cement Association (PCA) Chief Economist and Group Vice President Edward Sullivan said “the fundamentals in the United States are sound and should support sustained growth in construction activity.”

The U.S. economy is characterized by steady and strong gains in net job creation, low inflation, low interest rates, improving business and consumer confidence, all of which paints an optimistic near-term outlook. While some sectors have been hurt by a strong dollar and low oil prices, these factors hold the potential of a growth dividend later in the forecast horizon.

PCA’s Market Intelligence group expects construction activity will grow 4.8% this year and even stronger growth is expected for next year. Cement consumption is expected to grow 5% this year and 6.5% in 2016. Each of the three key sectors on cement consumption, residential, nonresidential and public construction are experiencing growth. Typically, when all three sectors are positive strong volume gains materialize.

INDONESIA: Cement Sales Jump in August as Construction Picks Up

Indonesia's domestic cement sales rose 13 percent year-on-year in August, reflecting spiking demand for infrastructure and housing construction, data from Indonesia Cement Association showed on Thursday.

Sales rose to 5.3 million metric tons of cement last month, from 4.7 million in the same period last year. Sales had been on the decline several months prior due to weak demand from the construction sector.

"The increase indicates that construction of infrastructure, housing and apartment is moving ahead, with the government starting to disburse their budget for the project," said Widodo Santoso, chairman of the cement association (ASI).

January-August sales reached 37 million tons, relatively the same as in 2014.

Widodo hoped cement sales will accelerate in the remaining months of this year, in line with the government's policy to disburse its infrastructure budget, boosting demand in Sulawesi, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara and Java.

The sale of cement is an indicator for household demand, which accounts for more than half of Indonesia's economy.

ALGERIE: Introduction à la Bourse en 2016 de la cimenterie d'Ain El Kebira

La cimenterie d'Ain El Kebira (wilaya de Sétif), filiale du Groupe industriel des ciments d'Algérie (GICA) sera introduite en Bourse en 2016 à hauteur de 35% de son capital, a annoncé jeudi son PDG, Laid Khaber.

L'opération d'entrée en Bourse de cette cimenterie publique qui produit 1,3 million de tonnes par an est actuellement en phase de préparation de la notice de présentation de l’unité qui devrait être déposée avant fin 2015 auprès de la Commission de surveillance des opérations de Bourse (COSOB), a indiqué M. Khaber à des journalistes en marge d’une visite à cette unité.

"L'entrée en Bourse de la cimenterie d’Ain El Kebira est prévue en 2016", a-t-il précisé, ajoutant que cette opération porte sur l’ouverture de 35% de son capital aux investisseurs institutionnels (banques, établissements financiers et compagnies d’assurance), mais aussi des personnes morales et physiques.

M. Khaber a, en outre, tenu à souligner que l’ouverture d’une partie du capital de la Société des ciments d’Ain El Kebira (SCAEK) au marché financier ne signifie pas qu’elle sera privatisée.

"Il ne s’agit pas d’une privatisation mais plutôt d’une contribution de la société à la dynamisation du marché boursier", a-t-il affirmé.

Le Conseil des participations de l'Etat (CPE) avait donné en 2013 le feu vert à huit entreprises publiques pour l'ouverture ou l'augmentation de leurs capitaux, rappelle-t-on.

Il s'agit de la banque publique CPA (Crédit populaire d’Algérie), de trois cimenteries publiques relevant du groupe GICA, de la compagnie d'assurance CAAR, de COSIDER Carrières, filiale du groupe public du BTPH COSIDER, de l'entreprise Hydro-aménagement et de l'opérateur historique de téléphonie mobile Mobilis.

INDIA: Cement stocks near 52-week low on construction slowdown

Most of the cement stocks are trading near their 52-week low on account of lower demand, stalling of construction activity during the monsoon season and excess capacity creation. But analysts see an uptick in demand with the recent awarding of projects by the government and expected revival of the rural demand post monsoon season.

Ambuja Cement last month breached its 52-week low creating a new low of Rs 197.40 on August 26, 2015. Other big cement manufacturers also trade near the 52-week low due to low price in markets across the country.

Ultra Tech Cement, the leader in the cement industry, on Thursday closed at Rs 2,978.15, much above its 52-week low of 2297 but below its 52 week high of Rs 3,398. Another Birla group company Grasim Industries closed at Rs 3468.90 near its 52-week low of Rs 3218.

Some of the mid-cap cement stocks like India Cements, Prism Cement and Mangalam Cement also trade near their one-year lows. 

Binod Modi, research analyst, Reliance Securities, in a report based on dealers check on current cement prices in different parts of the country, said “Absence of capex revival in infrastructure and real estate segments are hurting demand for cement.”

“All-India average cement prices recovered moderately by around 3 per cent month on month mainly supported by substantial price recovery seen in northern region. Average price currently is prevailing around around Rs300 to Rs 305 per bag, there has been scanty rainfall in many pockets, which supported demand especially from trade segment,” Modi said.

Analysts expect a decent uptick in demand scenario from the second half of FY16 in the backdrop of expected pickup in construction activities especially from projects awarded in the last 6 months. Further, rural demand is also expected to pick up post monsoon season.

Dhananjay Sinha, head, institutional research, Emkay Global Financial Services, in the India Strategy report said, “In the near-term, demand is expected to remain under pressure and we expect recovery only in the second half of the financial year. In the last six months, demand has also been impacted due to slowdown in rural demand. Expected pickup in infrastructure spending by governments can resuscitate demand and counterbalance slowing demand from real estate sector.”

“Oversupply still remains a concern primarily in the southern region though prices have sustained at higher levels for a long time now,” analysts said.

Cement players have been adding capacity but cement demand has not matched the capacity expansion. 

Angel Broking analyst Shrenik C. Gujrathi said, " For first quarter Mangalam Cement reported a disappointing set of numbers on the profitability front due to higher depreciation and interest expenses on account of new capacity addition."

According to a report by India Ratings, “The pan-India installed cement capacity increased to around 370 million tonne per annum (mtpa) in FY14 from around 350 mtpa in FY13 and the cement industry is expected to add another 51 mtpa capacity at a CAGR of 6.7 per cent over FY14-FY16 with the eastern region leading the addition with a share of 32 per cent followed by the northern region with a share of 25 per cent in the capacity addition.”

It is only Shree Cement in the cement sector that has outperformed others with its high profit as the stock trades at Rs 11,275 near to its 52-week high of Rs 12,249.

MONGOLIA: Mongolia opens eco-friendly cement plant

A cement plant which will use environmentally friendly technologies has been opened in Mongolia.

The Senj Sant facility will use a waste heat recovery power plant, which will help save energy and water.

It will produce one million tonnes of cement.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested $85 million (£54.4m) in the project.

It is located in Urgun Soum, Dornogovi province, 450km from the capital Ulaanbaatar.

Azjargal Ulziitogtokh, EBRD’s senior banker in charge of the project said: “This project will be a major step towards establishing domestic cement supply and substituting for imports. It is also important for the country’s economic diversification.

“The EBRD is proud to highlight that the project meets EU requirements and will be using best available technology.”

PAKISTAN: Cement sales rise 10% on domestic demand in August

During the month of August, cement sales rose 10.24% despite a decline of over 31% in exports as domestic demand continued to rise in the wake of accelerated economic activities.

According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association, cement dispatches during August 2015 stood at 3.061 million tons, 10.24% higher than 2.776 million tons in the same month of previous fiscal year.

Domestic sales in the month were 2.494 million tons against 1.94 million tons in August 2014, showing a growth of 27.99%. According to the zone-wise breakdown, domestic dispatches in the north zone were 2.024 million tons and in the south zone were 0.470 million tons.

On a year-on-year basis, total sales in the domestic market in the first two months of the current fiscal year were 4.29 million tons compared to 3.67 million tons in the same period of previous year, showing a growth of 16.73%.

Exports, however, continued to disappoint. Exports from the north zone during August were 349,873 tons, while exports from the south zone amounted to 216,815 tons.

Against exports of 827,707 tons in August 2014, the shipments were restricted to only 566,689 tons in August this year, a decline of 31.54%.

In the first two months (July and August), exports to Afghanistan dropped 18.24% to 394,500 tons compared to 482,528 tons in the same period of 2014, while exports to India fell to 100,437 tons against 140,131 tons in the previous year, down more than 28%.

“Exports to Afghanistan are gradually drying due to inroads made by Iranian cement,” said a spokesman for the association. “Iranian cement is also penetrating Pakistani markets on the back of massive under-invoicing or mis-declaration.”

NIGERIA: China’s Sinoma signs US$600m Nigerian cement expansion deal

Nigerian conglomerate BUA Group has signed US$600 million worth of contracts with China’s Sinoma International Engineering to double capacity at its flagship cement plant as it seeks to expand market share in Africa’s biggest economy.

BUA group, with interests in cement, pasta, steel and real estate, said it expected to double capacity at its Obu cement plant which currently produces 3.5 million tonnes.

It expects to complete the expansion by 2017, BUA’s executive chairman Abdulsamad Rabiu said at the signing ceremony held at Sinoma’s offices in China.

"BUA has less than 10 per cent of market share now. after expansion we should go to about 20 percent," he said.

Dangote Cement, majority owned by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, controls around 70 percent of market share in terms of output, with 29.25 million tonnes capacity in Nigeria.

The local unit of French cement maker Lafarge Africa , with 8 million tonnes, ranks second, industry analysts say.

Construction projects across Africa were worth around US$325 billion last year, a 2014 Deloitte report showed, up nearly 50 per cent from the previous year as power, transport, oil and gas and real estate sectors expanded.

BUA was also eyeing a continent wide expansion, Rabiu said.

Last week, Sinoma signed US$4.34 billion worth of contracts with Dangote Cement to almost double its production capacity across Africa, including Nigeria.