The uncertainty of the U.S.-China trade tension is causing great concern worldwide. Who is the bigger loser?   Can Asia ride out the storm? What is the impact on the cement industry, especially in emerging markets of Asia?

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has once again reiterated that it will continue to strictly prohibit cement companies from adding new capacity, despite improving profits. Years of efforts to cut excess capacity in the sector have helped to improve the industry's profits, but signs are emerging that some factories are increasing new capacity, according to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which released a joint statement with the state economic planning agency. It said that expansion projects to produce more cement, won't be approved. In addition, factories' plans to replace out-dated capacity with new capacity must comply with government rules.

With the merger of China’s CNBM and Sinoma, the country’s largest and fourth-largest cement producers to form the world’s largest cement maker and cement plant builder, aims for the combined entity to manage 100 plants in countries covered by the Belt and Road Initiative in three to five years. How will the cement markets be affected from this merger?

Big Boss Cement to invest P4-B to expand capacity.                                        

19/1/18, www.pna.gov.ph 

Thai industrial conglomerate Siam Cement Group will look for investment possibilities in South China and India in the years ahead, as China shapes its vision of the Belt and Road Initiative, said President and CEO Roongrote Rangsiyopash.

19/3/18, Nikkei Asian Review 

Huaxin Cement to build US$140m plant in Nepal  

25/6/18,www.globalcement.com  

“India's UltraTech Cement acquired 6 integrated cement plants and 5 grinding plants from Jaiprakash Associates, last year”

With cement assets changing hands and China dealing with excess capacities, what are the projections for 2019?

In SE Asia, Philippines' cement industry is now a hotbed of investments and expansions - driven mainly by the government’s ambitious P9-trillion Build Build Build infrastructure program that is expected to increase current cement demand of 25Mta to 40Mta by 2022.

A lot of cement producers are eyeing expansion in this market. Cemex is already running its Antipolo and Cebu plants at maximum capacity to meet the market demand. It is also building an additional 1.5 million-ton cement production line that will bring the total capacity of its Antipolo plant to 3.4 million tons.

What is the market prospect in Sri Lanka, Nepal, India or Indonesia?

The global green cement market is likely to reach USD37.2 billion by 2024 according to Energias Market Research. Durability of green cement along with new design possibilities offered by green cement are expected to drive the growth with Asia Pacific expected to experience the fastest growth.

The cement industry is investing in the digitalization of processes. Cement being an energy-intensive industry, huge potential savings can be achieved with optimized production process and reduced fuel consumption. Find out how IoT and digitization can reinforce the cement industry from Siam City Cement.

Attend CMT’s 20th Asia Cementrade Summit on 13-14 Nov 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand to gain first hand insights on the latest development in cement value chain and meeting the who’s who in the industry. Register with your team today at www.cmtevents.com  to enjoy group discount. Contact grace@cmtsp.com.sg for more information.

Highlights: 

• Global cement/clinker market trends & trade flow
• Focus : SE Asia, Australia, China, India & Central Asia
• Supplementary Cementitious Materials and coal market forecast
• Rising freight rates & its impact on cement industry
• Ready mix concrete market prospects
• Improve energy efficiency and profitability
• Growth potential of Low carbon cement & technology innovations
• Digital disruption and the cement industry