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Global Aggregates Production

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Jim O’Brien, President, GAIN, on strengthening the global aggregates industry through collaboration, data sharing and a commitment to sustainability.

GAIN™ is the trade-marked acronym of the Global Aggregates Information Network. Founded in 2010, it is an entirely voluntary network of the major national and regional aggregates associations of the world. The mission of GAIN is to openly share experiences and industry best practices in the interests of promoting the greater sustainability and performance of the aggregates industry globally. GAIN has no commercial interests and vigorously enforces an anti-trust policy.
Starting with just five members in 2010, GAIN now has over 20 members spread across all the six continents, its members representing 75 per cent of global aggregates production of just 39 billion metrictonnes(bnt).
GAIN is uniquely successful in its highly-interactive global membership, thanks to the very positive cooperation of its members. The most recent physical GAIN meeting, its seventh global meeting, was held in Córdoba, Argentina, kindly hosted by the Argentine Association Federación de la Piedra, with most GAIN regions in attendance. The wide-ranging agenda focused on sharing best practice on key industry challenges, and found the industry to be in resilient recovery post-pandemic and poised to address and benefit from future sustainability challenges and opportunities.
The next physical meeting of GAIN is planned for October 19-22, 2025, to be held in Córdoba, Spain, hosted by the Spanish Aggregates Federation. The 2026 physical meeting will be hosted in Shanghai by the China Aggregates Association. In parallel, virtual GAIN meetings are held every two months and are widely attended (including India) across many time zones and these too are marked by lively open exchanges of best practice on specific topics.

Taking stock
One ambition of GAIN is to compile the best annual estimates of aggregates production from data provided by GAIN members, the situation as of April 2025. This data reflects the best estimates available to each region, and while not claiming to be perfect, is probably the best data available anywhere on global aggregates production. The GAIN total of 34.1bnt in 2019 has actually declined to 29.4bnt in 2024, the significant decline of 4.7bnt being due to a combination of the impacts of the pandemic, the economic slowing in China and the wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East. When estimates for non-GAIN countries are added (based on their national populations x their estimated tonne/capita), the global totals of 44.0bnt in 2019 has actually declined by 11.4 per cent to 39.0bnt in 2024, the trend being shown in Figure 2. The estimates given for 2025 must at this stage be regarded as preliminary and are very subject to the unpredictable geopolitics now in play, but point towards 2025 being a similar year to 2024 with 39.0bnt global total aggregates production.
The breakdown by region is illustrated in
Figure 1, still dominated by China at 39 per cent, with India coming second at 15 per cent, followed by Europe at 7 per cent and the USA at 6 per cent, these top four comprise 67 per cent of the global demand. Adding in the other GAIN member countries brings the GAIN total to 75 per cent of global production. It is hoped that many more countries will join GAIN in the coming years, bringing its representation towards 100 per cent of the global aggregates industry. The global average is 4.8t/c; for GAIN members the average is 6.5t/c and the non-GAIN average is 2.6t/c. For any country, the demand in tonnes per capita can be empirically related to GDP per capita – or more precisely, the rate of change in GDP/capita –plus upward adjustments for national terrain ruggedness and local
climatic severity.
Looking ahead towards 2030, assuming a positive global geopolitical outlook with resultant economic growth, coupled with the twin demands of population growth and urbanisation, there is a possibility for global demand to reach 40bnt by 2030. These figures demonstrate that aggregates are indeed by far the most used bulk product on the planet, with the industry having an economic value similar to that of the cement sector, both points often overlooked.
Looking specifically at India, as shown in Figure 2, production suffered a significant decline in 2020 during the pandemic, but is now back into strong growth with an estimated 5.9bnt for 2024, hopefully further rising to 6.4bnt in 2025. That will correspond to a demand of 4 tonnes/capita; while still well below that of developed regions, this can portend significant further growth in the years to come. Overall, India should be proud that it is the second largest and fastest growing aggregates market globally. The current growth is being driven principally by massive infrastructural investments in roads, railways, ports and airports; long may it continue.
The author hopes that India will soon benefit from forming a much-needed fully-fledged national aggregates association, similar to those very professionally representing the Indian cement and concrete sectors. A national aggregates association, benefitting from sharing of international best practices within GAIN, can then bring world class excellence to the aggregates industry in India.

About the author:
Jim O’Brien, President, GAIN, is a veteran of the building materials industry. He has spent 39 years at CRH plc, and has spearheaded the formation of the Global Aggregates Information Network (GAIN), a voluntary liaison network of regional and national aggregates associations around the world. More details on www.gain.ie.

Concrete

FORNNAX Appoints Dieter Jerschl as Sales Partner for Central Europe

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FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY has appointed industry veteran Dieter Jerschl as its new sales partner in Germany to strengthen its presence across Central Europe. The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of FORNNAX’s high-capacity, sustainable recycling solutions while building long-term regional capabilities.

FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY, one of the leading advanced recycling equipment manufacturers, has announced the appointment of a new sales partner in Germany as part of its strategic expansion into Central Europe. The company has entered into a collaborative agreement with Mr. Dieter Jerschl, a seasoned industry professional with over 20 years of experience in the shredding and recycling sector, to represent and promote FORNNAX’s solutions across key European markets.

Mr. Jerschl brings extensive expertise from his work with renowned companies such as BHS, Eldan, Vecoplan, and others. Over the course of his career, he has successfully led the deployment of both single machines and complete turnkey installations for a wide range of applications, including tyre recycling, cable recycling, municipal solid waste, e-waste, and industrial waste processing.

Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Jerschl said,
“I’ve known FORNNAX for over a decade and have followed their growth closely. What attracted me to this collaboration is their state-of-the-art & high-capacity technology, it is powerful, sustainable, and economically viable. There is great potential to introduce FORNNAX’s innovative systems to more markets across Europe, and I am excited to be part of that journey.”

The partnership will primarily focus on Central Europe, including Germany, Austria, and neighbouring countries, with the flexibility to extend the geographical scope based on project requirements and mutual agreement. The collaboration is structured to evolve over time, with performance-driven expansion and ongoing strategic discussions with FORNNAX’s management. The immediate priority is to build a strong project pipeline and enhance FORNNAX’s brand presence across the region.

FORNNAX’s portfolio of high-performance shredding and pre-processing solutions is well aligned with Europe’s growing demand for sustainable and efficient waste treatment technologies. By partnering with Mr. Jerschl—who brings deep market insight and established industry relationships—FORNNAX aims to accelerate adoption of its solutions and participate in upcoming recycling projects across the region.

As part of the partnership, Mr. Jerschl will also deliver value-added services, including equipment installation, maintenance, and spare parts support through a dedicated technical team. This local service capability is expected to ensure faster project execution, minimise downtime, and enhance overall customer experience.

Commenting on the long-term vision, Mr. Jerschl added,
“We are committed to increasing market awareness and establishing new reference projects across the region. My goal is not only to generate business but to lay the foundation for long-term growth. Ideally, we aim to establish a dedicated FORNNAX legal entity or operational site in Germany over the next five to ten years.”

For FORNNAX, this partnership aligns closely with its global strategy of expanding into key markets through strong regional representation. The company believes that local partnerships are critical for navigating complex market dynamics and delivering solutions tailored to region-specific waste management challenges.

“We see tremendous potential in the Central European market,” said Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO of FORNNAX.
“Partnering with someone as experienced and well-established as Mr. Jerschl gives us a strong foothold and allows us to better serve our customers. This marks a major milestone in our efforts to promote reliable, efficient and future-ready recycling solutions globally,” he added.

This collaboration further strengthens FORNNAX’s commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and sustainable waste management, supporting the transition toward a greener and more circular future.

 

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Budget 2026–27 infra thrust and CCUS outlay to lift cement sector outlook

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Higher capex, city-led growth and CCUS funding improve demand visibility and decarbonisation prospects for cement

Mumbai

Cement manufacturers have welcomed the Union Budget 2026–27’s strong infrastructure thrust, with public capital expenditure increased to Rs 12.2 trillion, saying it reinforces infrastructure as the central engine of economic growth and strengthens medium-term prospects for the cement sector. In a statement, the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) has welcomed the Union budget 2026-27 for reinforcing the ambitions for the nation’s growth balancing the aspirations of the people through inclusivity inspired by the vision of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and Atmanirbharta.

The budget underscores India’s steady economic trajectory over the past 12 years, marked by fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation, and offers strong demand visibility for infrastructure linked sectors such as cement.

The Budget’s strong infrastructure push, with public capital expenditure rising from Rs 11.2 trillion in fiscal year 2025–26 to Rs 12.2 trillion in fiscal year 2026–27, recognises infrastructure as the primary anchor for economic growth creating positive prospects for the Indian cement industry and improving long term visibility for the cement sector. The emphasis on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with populations above 5 lakh and the creation of City Economic Regions (CERs) with an allocation of Rs 50 billion per CER over five years, should accelerate construction activity across housing, transport and urban services, supporting broad based cement consumption.

Logistics and connectivity measures announced in the budget are particularly significant for the cement industry. The announcement of new dedicated freight corridors, the operationalisation of 20 additional National Waterways over the next five years, the launch of the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to raise the modal share of waterways and coastal shipping from 6 per cent to 12 per cent by 2047, and the development of ship repair ecosystems should enhance multimodal freight efficiency, reduce logistics costs and improve the sector’s carbon footprint. The announcement of seven high speed rail corridors as growth corridors can be expected to further stimulate regional development and construction demand.

Commenting on the budget, Parth Jindal, President, Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA), said, “As India advances towards a Viksit Bharat, the three kartavya articulated in the Union Budget provide a clear context for the Nation’s growth and aspirations, combining economic momentum with capacity building and inclusive progress. The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) appreciates the Union Budget 2026-27 for the continued emphasis on manufacturing competitiveness, urban development and infrastructure modernisation, supported by over 350 reforms spanning GST simplification, labour codes, quality control rationalisation and coordinated deregulation with States. These reforms, alongside the Budget’s focus on Youth Power and domestic manufacturing capacity under Atmanirbharta, stand to strengthen the investment environment for capital intensive sectors such as Cement. The Union Budget 2026-27 reflects the Government’s focus on infrastructure led development emerging as a structural pillar of India’s growth strategy.”

He added, “The Rs 200 billion CCUS outlay for various sectors, including Cement, fundamentally alters the decarbonisation landscape for India’s emissions intensive industries. CCUS is a significant enabler for large scale decarbonisation of industries such as Cement and this intervention directly addresses the technology and cost requirements of the Cement sector in context. The Cement Industry, fully aligned with the Government of India’s Net Zero commitment by 2070, views this support as critical to enabling the adoption and scale up of CCUS technologies while continuing to meet the Country’s long term infrastructure needs.”

Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Vice President, CMA, said, “The government’s sustained infrastructure push supports employment, regional development and stronger local supply chains. Cement manufacturing clusters act as economic anchors across regions, generating livelihoods in construction, logistics and allied sectors. The budget’s focus on inclusive growth, execution and system level enablers creates a supportive environment for responsible and efficient expansion offering opportunities for economic growth and lending momentum to the cement sector. The increase in public capex to Rs 12.2 trillion, the focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and the creation of City Economic Regions stand to strengthen the growth of the cement sector. We welcome the budget’s emphasis on tourism, cultural and social infrastructure, which should broaden construction activity across regions. Investments in tourism facilities, heritage and Buddhist circuits, regional connectivity in Purvodaya and North Eastern States, and the strengthening of emergency and trauma care infrastructure in district hospitals reinforce the cement sector’s role in enabling inclusive growth.”

CMA also noted the Government’s continued commitment to fiscal discipline, with the fiscal deficit estimated at 4.3 per cent of GDP in FY27, reinforcing macroeconomic stability and investor confidence.

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Concrete

Steel: Shielded or Strengthened?

CW explores the impact of pro-steel policies on construction and infrastructure and identifies gaps that need to be addressed.

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Going forward, domestic steel mills are targeting capacity expansion
of nearly 40 per cent through till FY31, adding 80-85 mt, translating
into an investment pipeline of $ 45-50 billion. So, Jhunjhunwala points
out that continuing the safeguard duty will be vital to prevent a surge
in imports and protect domestic prices from external shocks. While in
FY26, the industry operating profit per tonne is expected to hold at
around $ 108, similar to last year, the industry’s earnings must
meaningfully improve from hereon to sustain large-scale investments.
Else, domestic mills could experience a significant spike in industry
leverage levels over the medium term, increasing their vulnerability to
external macroeconomic shocks.(~$ 60/tonne) over the past one month,
compressing the import parity discount to ~$ 23-25/tonne from previous
highs of ~$ 70-90/tonne, adds Jhunjhunwala. With this, he says, “the
industry can expect high resistance to further steel price increases.”

Domestic HRC prices have increased by ~Rs 5,000/tonne
“Aggressive
capacity additions (~15 mt commissioned in FY25, with 5 mt more by
FY26) have created a supply overhang, temporarily outpacing demand
growth of ~11-12 mt,” he says…

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