Economy & Market

Pakistani manufacturers lobby against cement imports

Published

9 years ago

April 2, 2017

admin

Pakistani cement manufacturers have said that in order to meet massive demand for cement in the country due to various government-run and upcoming China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, the industry has gone in for expansion in its capacity from 44 million tonnes (MT) to 60 MT within two to three years. In this scenario, they are lobbying against cement imports.

India has an import tariff of 19 per cent, these manufacturers have argued, which makes it difficult for them to compete with other exporting countries which have lesser input cost.

"The factors contributing to decline in exports include increase in fuel prices and other input costs, and the most damaging were the barriers erected by the countries they export to, such as anti-dumping duty imposed by South Africa to protect its local industry," industry stakeholders said.

In the first eight months of this fiscal, Pakistan dispatched 26.339 MT of cement, showing an overall growth of 6.36 per cent over the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

During this period, domestic consumption increased by 9.12 per cent, but exports declined by 8.54 per cent.

Concrete

WCA Welcomes SiloConnect as associate corporate member

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

admin

The World Cement Association (WCA) has announced SiloConnect as its newest associate corporate member, expanding its network of technology providers supporting digitalisation in the cement industry. SiloConnect offers smart sensor technology that provides real-time visibility of cement inventory levels at customer silos, enabling producers to monitor stock remotely and plan deliveries more efficiently. The solution helps companies move from reactive to proactive logistics, improving delivery planning, operational efficiency and safety by reducing manual inspections. The technology is already used by major cement producers such as Holcim, Cemex and Heidelberg Materials and is deployed across more than 30 countries worldwide.

Concrete

TotalEnergies and Holcim Launch Floating Solar Plant in Belgium

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

admin

TotalEnergies and Holcim have commissioned a floating solar power plant in Obourg, Belgium, built on a rehabilitated former chalk quarry that has been converted into a lake. The project has a generation capacity of 31 MW and produces around 30 GWh of renewable electricity annually, which will be used to power Holcim’s nearby industrial operations. The project is currently the largest floating solar installation in Europe dedicated entirely to industrial self-consumption. To ensure minimal impact on the surrounding landscape, more than 700 metres of horizontal directional drilling were used to connect the solar installation to the electrical substation. The project reflects ongoing collaboration between the two companies to support industrial decarbonisation through renewable energy solutions and innovative infrastructure development.

Concrete

Cortec® Corporation applauded for its strong safety performance

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

admin

Cortec® Corporation has been recognised for its strong safety performance, receiving its sixth Governor’s Workplace Safety Award for its outstanding performance in 2025. As a Silver Achievement recipient, the company continues to maintain safety metrics well above national industry averages, an impressive accomplishment for a chemical manufacturing organisation. This achievement reflects Cortec’s proactive approach to workplace safety, focused on early hazard detection and employee involvement. The company will be formally recognised at the Minnesota Safety and Health Conference in May, highlighting how industrial companies are effectively strengthening workplace safety standards.