Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico in August 2014 were 8.7 million metric tons (Mt), up slightly from the level in August 2013. Shipments for the year through August were 57.3 Mt, up by about 7 percent from the same period in 2013.
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Mcinnis Cement Counters Quebec Plant Opponents’ Government Subsidy Claims
Responding to Lafarge North America charges of “enormous subsidies” behind a $1 billion greenfield cement plant and marine terminal in eastern Quebec, McInnis Cement contends: “The project has no subsidies [and] is being financed based on the merits of the business, with all debt and equity investors involved doing so on a commercial basis alone.”
Read MoreLafarge Praises U.S. Government Action
Lafarge North America issued a statement applauding the Office of the United States Trade Representative, which recently confronted Canadian trade officials at a meeting of the Subsidies Committee of the World Trade Organization (WTO) about the enormous subsidies pledged for the construction of a cement facility in Quebec.
Read MoreGreat Lakes Cement Shipments Rise
Shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the Great Lake region remained strong in October as North American manufacturers and cities stockpiled vital materials in advance of the coming winter and farmers relied on the waterway to export the new harvest.
Read MoreArgos to Expand Capacity in Colombia
With an investment of $450 million, Argos will increase its installed capacity in Colombia by 24 percent –9.5 to 11.8 million tpy – through a new production line at its Sogamoso, Boyacá, plant. Confidence in Colombia’s growth, proximity to Bogota and the majority of the infrastructure plan projects, as well as access to abundant sources of raw materials and fuels,…
Read MoreElementia to Buy Lafarge Stake, Considers IPO
Mexican construction conglomerate Elementia is considering a stock listing as it strengthens its cement business by buying French partner Lafarge SA’s minority stake in joint-venture Cementos Fortaleza, reported the Wall Street Journal.
Read MoreCTLGroup Brings Consultant Onboard
Hamlin Jennings, PhD, has joined CTLGroup as an affiliated consultant. In his new role, Dr. Jennings will consult on cement chemistry, cementitious composite microstructural characterization, concrete durability, and mechanisms of creep and shrinkage. Dr. Jennings’ work includes forensic investigations, new product development and applying new technologies for characterizing cement and concrete behavior.
Read MoreAir Cannons Hammer Preheater Buildup at Nebraska Plant
Ash Grove Cement has solved a buildup problem in the precalciner of its Louisville, Neb., plant by installing a network of high-performance air cannons, improving material flow and drastically reducing the need to hydro-lance. The series of 25 air cannons from Martin Engineering fires a powerful discharge of compressed air in a prescribed pattern to remove material that becomes adhered…
Read MoreLafarge, Holcim Notify EU Commission of Merger
Building materials groups Lafarge and Holcim have formally notified the European Commission of their merger plan to create the world’s biggest cement group, LafargeHolcim, reported Reuters. The all-share combination, which requires approval from regulators around the world, already has the green light from seven countries (Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, South Africa, Morocco, Kenya and Singapore), executives told reporters on a conference…
Read MoreCementos Argos Releases Positive Third Quarter Results
Argos has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2014 (3Q14). Consolidated income showed an increase of 16 percent compared to the same period in 2013, with both cement and concrete sales volumes continuing their steady upward trend, with accumulated growth rates of 9 percent and 18 percent, respectively.
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