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.

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.

The Indian cement industry enters the new financial year facing a complex and evolving cost environment shaped increasingly by global geopolitical developments. Ongoing tensions in West Asia have begun to influence the industry’s input cost structure, particularly through rising prices of imported fuels, freight and packaging materials. For an industry where fuel and logistics constitute a significant share of total production cost, these developments are already beginning to reflect in margin pressures across producers.
A large portion of the Indian cement industry’s fuel requirement, which is estimated at nearly 50–60 per cent, is still met through imported petcoke, making the sector highly vulnerable to global energy price volatility. Any disruption in supply chains or shipping routes directly affects fuel costs, which remain one of the largest cost components in cement manufacturing. At the same time, international freight rates have increased, adding another layer of cost pressure for companies dependent on imported fuel and raw materials.
Another emerging concern is the sharp rise in polypropylene (PP) prices, the primary raw material used for cement packaging bags. Since polypropylene prices are closely linked to crude oil prices, fluctuations in oil markets are now directly impacting cement packaging costs. Industry reports also indicate concerns about potential shortages of polypropylene, which could further disrupt cement bag availability and increase packaging costs.
This combination of rising fuel, freight and packaging costs is placing cement manufacturers in a difficult position. While input costs are rising, the ability to pass on these increases to the market remains limited due to competitive pricing dynamics and regional demand-supply conditions.
According to recent industry estimates and credit rating agency ICRA, the Indian cement industry is expected to grow by around 7–8 per cent in FY26, driven by infrastructure spending, housing demand and government capital expenditure. However, profitability is likely to remain under pressure due to elevated input costs and continued global uncertainty.
As the industry moves into the new fiscal year, cost management, operational efficiency and supply chain optimisation will remain critical for cement companies navigating an increasingly uncertain global environment.