Uzbekistan increases cement imports six-fold in 1H18
Uzbekistan imported cement amounting to a value of US$79.8m in the 1H18, according to the State Statistics Committee, which is six times higher than last year.
In 1H18 Uzbekistan’s own production of cement decreased by 6.2 per cent to 3.954Mt. For the same period in 2017, Portland cement production in the country amounted to 4.199Mt.
Analysts report a significant increase in energy prices in 2018 for natural gas and electricity, which has affected cement production. For construction industry enterprises, including cement producers, gas and electricity consumption tariffs rose by at least 60 per cent in 2018, claims Uzbekistan Newsline.
According to Goskomstat, in July the market price of cement in Uzbekistan exceeded UZS700,000/t (US$89.79/t). Official statistics recorded the highest prices for building materials in Karakalpakstan at UZS764,000/t, Khorezm at UZS757,000/t, Syrdarya regions at 745,000/t and in Tashkent at UZS743,000/t.
However, cement producers may sell 2Mta of cement to contractors who are building affordable housing or public infrastrucutre projects, with such sales subsidised by the government which has set a price of UZS367,000/t.
Source: CEMNET
Vietnam sees 63% advance in exports in 7M18
Vietnam’s cement and clinker exports surged 63.2 per cent to 17.65Mt and 73 per cent to US$656.3m in the first seven months of 2018, according to the country’s General Department of Customs.
Around 26.9 per cent of exports were shipped to Bangladesh, Vietnam’s largest cement and clinker export market. In terms of volume, deliveries rose by 4.9 per cent to 4.75Mt while the export value increased by 15.8 per cent to US$152.8m YoY. The average price of exports was US$32.2/t.
Volumes to China rose 80-fold with a 90-fold advance in value, reaching 4.52Mt and US$158.35m, respectively, when compared with 7M17. They represented a six per cent share of total export volumes and 24.1 per cent of total turnover. Export prices to China increased 12.6 per cent YoY with the average price per tonne at US$35.
Vietnam’s third-largest cement and clinker export market, the Philippines, paid on average US$45.30/t for some 3.49Mt of Vietnamese product, which saw a 23.5 per cent YoY advance in volumes. Export turnover from these exports were up 28.1 per cent to US$159.73m.
In addition, there was particularly strong growth over the same period in Malaysia, where Vietnamese cement exporters increased their volumes by 87.9 per cent to 0.52Mt and turnover by 102.2 per cent to US$17.85m (average export price: US$34.20/t, up 7.6 per cent YoY). Cement producers also saw the off-take by Peru surge 74.7 per cent in volume and 72 per cent in value to close at 0.57Mt and US$26.49m.
Cement and clinker exports to the Australian market were particularly noticeable with a very strong increase of 96.2 per cent over the same period last year, with record prices of US$66.7/t. However, exports declined sharply by 90.2 per cent and turnover fell 80.8 per cent to 23,504t, equivalent to US$1.57m.
In addition, exports to Sri Lanka also decreased 68.3 per cent in volume and 64.3 per cent in turnover, reaching 128,059t, equivalent to US$4.23m. Exports to Mozambique fell by 47.9 per cent in volume and 40.8 percent in value to 156,120t, or US$5.14m.
Source: CEMNET
Qatar’s monthly cement production retreats
Qatar’s monthly industrial output contracted in June with the Industrial Production Index decreasing by 2.9 per cent MoM compared to 3.3 per cent MoM growth in May, figures released by the Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics show. The production of cement and other non-metallic products fell steeply by 14 per cent.
Qatar’s production base is currently expanding with Qatar National Cement Company preparing to start up a new production line in 2H18.
Source: CEMNET
UltraTech to expand waste heat recovery capacity
UltraTech Cement Ltd, India’s leading cement company, is setting up waste heat recovery systems at five of its units over the next two years with a cumulative capacity to generate 63 MW power. This will more than double its overall waste heat recovery capacity from 58 MW to 121 MW.
The cumulative capacity of 121 MW will potentially cut the company’s CO2 emissions by 0.72 million tpy, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the business. UltraTech is expected to meet 15% of its power requirement from these waste heat recovery systems.
The waste heat recovery capacity expansion is planned at Kotputli cement plant in Rajasthan, Dhar cement plant in Madhya Pradesh, Hirmi cement plant in Chattisgarh, Gujarat cement plant in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh cement plant in Andhra Pradesh. The waste heat recovery system at Dhar cement plant, with a capacity of 13 MW, is under commissioning and is expected to be completed by September 2018.
UltraTech Cement is one of the earliest proponents of waste heat recovery systems among cement manufacturers in India. The benefits include carbon footprint reduction and Perform Achieve Trade (PAT) benefits, as well as cost benefits with reduction in cost per unit. As fossil fuels become scarcer and power costs increase, waste heat recovery is going to be a strategic option to become environment friendly and establish cost leadership. Cost benefits include reduction in cost per unit of power from INR4 per unit to just INR0.5 per unit.
UltraTech has overachieved the energy efficiency performance target set by the government of India for the first PAT cycle and is moving ahead with the next phase of the cycle. Waste heat recovery has been crucial in enabling UltraTech to meet its PAT targets, and will continue to do so in meeting future PAT targets.
The waste heat recovery projects demonstrate UltraTech’s commitment to furthering sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Production and Consumption, and Climate Action.
UltraTech Cement has set a target to reduce its CO2 intensity by 25% by FY2021, as compared to FY2005-06. The company has identified waste heat recovery as one of the key levers towards meeting this target of reducing carbon emissions from its operations as well as securing a sustainable energy source.
Source: WORLD CEMENT