News

Imports of aggregates in Russia reached 21 million m³ in 2013, which is 4.3% more than in 2012. Imports of crushed stone grew 7.7%. Ukraine captured 82.5% of the imports (17.3 million m³, +5.5%), while 50% of the imported aggregates went to Moscow and the region.

The largest consumers of crushed stone supplied via railroad were Mosinzhebeton (450,000m³), Promstroymaterialy MSK (305,000m³), Geoprom-Mekhanika (285,000 m³), TransLogistic (270,000m³) and PSK Obrey (265,000m³).

The CW Group’s twice-yearly cement demand, capacity production outlook published in the Global Cement Volume Forecast Report (GCVFR) predicts that global cement demand will pause in 2014 at 3.9% year-on-year, following a stronger-than-expected 2013.

In 2013, global cement demand expanded 6.6% to 3.99 billion tons on surging Chinese demand, but growth will moderate 3.7%/year on average through 2018.

Even though we believe ex-China growth remaining positive beyond 2014, the shape of the growth curve fl

Cemex in Latvia supplied specialty architectural ready-mix concrete to help realise the vision of internationally acclaimed architect, Gunnar Birkerts, to construct the Castle of Light, the centerpiece of Latvia’s new National Library, the largest national construction project in Latvia over the past 20 years.

Facing the historic centre of the capital city of Riga, the innovative 13-storey, asymmetrical contemporary library will anchor a new development that includes a government centre, university build

In 2014-2016, Uzbekistan's producers of building materials intend to invest €342.84 million in development of the building materials sector.

Medef, the French employers' organisation, has appointed Bruno Lafont as president of its sustainable development division.

Lafont, CEO of Lafarge, replaces Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, chairman of Solvay's executive committee.

Lafont has chaired Medef's sustainable development commission since the end of 2013.

Finnish concrete element manufacturer Betoniluoma; insulation company Paroc and PiiMat, a distributor for the manufacturers of coatings and building materials, have developed a facade element made of fibre-reinforced concrete.

Other manufacturers and the Finnish concrete industry have also participated in the development.

The new sandwich element is said to be much lighter than a traditional element as its outer layer has no reinforcements. The product is to be launched in the summer of 2014.

China's cement output in 2013 rose by 9.57% year-on-year to 2.41 billion tonnes, up from 2.18 billion tonnes in 2012.

Only Shanghai, Liaoning and Hebei reported negative growth with Shanghai down by 5.65%.

The cement sector posted a total profit of CNY 76.60 billion (€9.15 billion/US$12.57 billion) in 2013, up 16.4% from CNY 65.7 billion in 2012 but still down from CNY 102 billion in 2011.

Cemex will provide concrete that will be used on renovation works at the Parliament building in Budapest.

The company will supply 17,000m³ of a special concrete for these works.

Dust Control Technology of Peoria, Illinois, USA, a leader in open-area dust suppression technology has sponsored a day-long event to benefit the children of Casa Hogar de Cabo San Lucas, an orphanage dedicated to providing active care and personal well-being for boys in need in Baja California Sur.

The 41 young men who currently call the facility home were treated to a full day of food and surfing, hosted on the grounds of the Cabo Surf Hotel, including lessons from professional instructors at the Mike

International construction equipment manufacturer Chicago Pneumatic has appointed Harper Plant as an authorised distributor of its full range of construction and portable energy equipment in south-west England.

The company, which has proven successful in selling Chicago Pneumatic’s pneumatic and hydraulic products, has now extended its offering to include the brand’s diesel-powered portable compressors and generators.

“We are very pleased to become a fully authorised Chicago Pneumatic distributor. Ch

Holcim’s board of directors is proposing to the annual meeting on 29 April, 2014 the election of Wolfgang Reitzle as the new chairman to succeed Rolf Soiron who has been the chairman for the past 11 years and a member of the board of directors for 20 years.

Thanking Rolf Soiron for his many years of service to the group as well as all his efforts, which were instrumental to Holcim's success, the board also thanks Erich Hunziker and Andreas von Planta for their many contributions to the group. They are n

UK and Dubai headquartered Meridian Drilling is looking forward to fresh challenges after concluding its four-year involvement with the Allana Potash project in Ethiopia.

The project saw Meridian Drilling complete 25,000m of drilling, operating two Atlas Copco CS14 wireline drilling rigs for 24-hours-a-day in the harsh and remote Danakil Depression.

The contract was initially for just 3,000m of diamond drilling, and Meridian’s managing director Jeremy Moore explained he was initially advised not to ta