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Cement

Cement is a binding material used in construction to bond aggregates such as sand and gravel into concrete, and is a fundamental component of the global building and infrastructure industries. It is produced by heating limestone and clay or other silica-bearing materials in a kiln at temperatures exceeding 1 400 °C, forming clinker, which is then ground with gypsum to create the fine powder known as cement. The most common type is Portland cement, which accounts for the majority of global production and is used in applications ranging from residential buildings to large-scale infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, dams and ports. Cement manufacturing is energy-intensive and relies heavily on coal, electricity and alternative fuels, making it sensitive to energy costs and supply constraints. The industry is also a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions, both from the combustion of fuels and the chemical process of calcining limestone, prompting growing investment in lower-carbon technologies and alternative binders. Major cement producers operate integrated plants that combine quarrying, clinker production and grinding, often located near limestone deposits to minimise transport costs. In Africa, cement demand is driven by urbanisation, population growth and infrastructure development, with South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya among the largest markets. The sector is characterised by high capital intensity, economies of scale and regional market structures, with multinational groups and domestic players competing alongside state-owned enterprises in some countries. Cement prices are influenced by raw material availability, energy costs, transport logistics, import competition and construction activity cycles. The industry faces ongoing challenges including energy security, environmental regulation, capacity utilisation and the need to balance growth with sustainability objectives.

Latest Articles in 60 Seconds

PPC Zimbabwe land deal lapses after payment failure

JSE-listed PPC says the $30-million disposal agreement for the Arlington Property, held by subsidiary PPC Zimbabwe, has lapsed after proposed buyer Transvaal Africa failed to make payment by the extended June 30, 2026 deadline. The property remains a noncore asset and PPC Zimbabwe will consider any other purchase offers on their merits.

PPC delivers 67% Ebitda increase as Western Cape plant nears completion

PPC has posted a second consecutive year of strong turnaround performance, with group Ebitda up 31% to about R2.1-billion for the 12 months ended March 31, and earnings a share up 75% to 56c. The Awaken the Giant strategy is delivering ahead of expectations, positioning PPC for a further step change in the 2028 financial year once the new R3-billion RK3 integrated cement plant in the Western Cape is commissioned.

SepHold grows revenue as cement unit faces margin pressure

Sephaku Holdings reports group revenue for the year to March 31 rose to R1.29-billion from R1.18-billion, with net profit up to R93-million from R74-million. Cement unit Sephaku Cement saw sales revenue decline to R2.7-billion and Ebitda fall to R301-million for its year to end December 2025, while mixed concrete subsidiary Métier improved its Ebitda margin to 15.2%.

Cement Updates


AfriSam warns of margin squeeze for concrete product manufacturers as cost pressures intensify
AfriSam warns of margin squeeze for concrete product manufacturers as cost pressures intensify
7th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Concrete product manufacturers (CPMs) in South Africa are facing a tightening margin squeeze, with rising input and transport costs set to place further pressure on already constrained operations.... 


AfriSam is helping concrete product manufacturers tighten process control and reduce waste as margin pressures intensify across the sector
Afrisam Warns Of Margin Squeeze For Concrete Product Manufacturers As Cost Pressures Intensify
7th July 2026

Concrete product manufacturers are facing intensifying cost pressures and shrinking margins, driving a critical need for tighter process control, reduced waste and improved production efficiency.... 


Tru-Trac and BREC team members at Hillhead 2026, reinforcing their strong partnership in the UK market
Tru-trac And Brec Strengthen Uk Partnership With Belt Scale Technology
6th July 2026

Tru-Trac has expanded its long-standing UK partnership with BREC Ltd to include its advanced Belt Scale solutions, providing customers with a broader portfolio of intelligent conveyor technologies... 


PPC Zimbabwe vacant land disposal period lapses without payment
1st July 2026 By: Schalk Burger

JSE-listed cement and construction materials company PPC has advised its shareholders that it had not received the $30-million payment for the disposal of the Arlington Property, held by subsidiary... 


SepHold grows full-year revenue, net profit
30th June 2026 By: Schalk Burger

JSE-listed building and construction materials company Sephaku Holdings (SepHold) reported that group consolidated revenue for the financial year ended March 31 increased to R1.29-billion, up from... 


Mpume Mabaso-Mlalazi, Research & Development Manager at Chryso Southern Africa
Chryso R&D Allows Scaled Rollout of Calcined Clay Cement
12th June 2026

Abundant deposits of clay across Africa make limestone calcined clay cement (LC³) a popular lower carbon option for the continent and Chryso Southern Africa is finding innovative solutions to the... 


PPC CEO Matias Cardarelli
PPC delivers 67% Ebitda increase as turnaround strategy progresses
8th June 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

JSE-listed cement producer PPC says it has delivered a second consecutive year of strong turnaround-driven performance for the 12 months ended March 31, with a step-change in results across all key... 


Trade remedy reviews
5th June 2026 By: Riaan de Lange

Diarise it. Diarise June 22, or circle it on your calendar if you are old school. Why should you diarise it? Well, the day is celebrated as World Rainforest Day, International Being You Day, and... 


a handful of refuse waste and high-calorific materials
Alternative fuels can reduce costs
5th June 2026 By: Halima Frost

Converting hazardous waste and high-calorific materials into alternative fuels has enabled cement manufacturing facilities to partially or fully replace the coal used to fire cement kilns.... 


Association marks ten-year anniversary
5th June 2026

International cement association and representative body the World Cement Association (WCA), celebrated its tenth anniversary on May 18, 2026, adding that this milestone was achieved during a... 


EE Publishers MD Chris Yelland
Opinion: Why Eskom's carbon intensity may become the biggest strategic challenge for South African exporters
1st June 2026

In this article, EE Business Intelligence MD Chris Yelland writes that the immediate impact of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on South African exports is relatively limited, but... 


Image of cement plant
RK3 plant, South Africa – update
29th May 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Investment in the project continues to progress in line with strategic priorities.  


Lime production in Zambia
ZCCM-IH, Wonderful Group to invest $30m on reviving Ndola lime production facility
27th May 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Zambia's State-owned mineral and energy investment holding company ZCCM Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has entered into a joint venture (JV) with the Wonderful Group of Companies to develop and... 


PPC issues positive trading update as turnaround strategy continues
PPC issues positive trading update as turnaround strategy continues
25th May 2026 By: Terence Creamer

JSE-listed cement producer PPC has issued a positive trading update ahead of its full-year financial results in June, attributing the improvement to its ongoing turnaround strategy. The statement... 


Factories drive Africa’s billionaires
22nd May 2026 By: Martin Zhuwakinyu

We in South Africa have long comforted ourselves with the assumption that, whatever the continent’s turbulence, our economy is Africa’s biggest, anchored by deep capital markets, globally... 


Afrimat CEO Andries van Heerden
Afrimat posts solid results; sets focus on growing cash generation, reducing debt
21st May 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Although it remains profitable, is able to service its debt and posted good results for the financial year ended February 28, JSE-listed construction materials and industrial minerals mining... 


Iron-ore operation in Brazil
Brazil proposes three-phase carbon market rollout starting 2027
20th May 2026 By: Reuters

Brazil's Finance Ministry on Tuesday released a preliminary proposal for phased sectoral coverage of the country's regulated carbon market, outlining which industries will be required to report... 


PPC CEO Matias Cardarelli
PPC, Sinoma Overseas to increase cement, clinker production capacity in Zimbabwe
19th May 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

JSE-listed construction materials company PPC has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with international engineering company Sinoma Overseas to cooperate on various initiatives aimed at... 


A flue at the Kusile power station
New technology nearing pilot-plant stage
8th May 2026 By: Halima Frost

To advance its locally developed carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technology, South African company EPCM Global Engineering is progressing to the next stage of development through a... 


A PPC cement plant
Heidelberg weighs bid to acquire South African cement firm PPC
5th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

Heidelberg Materials is in talks with banks to appoint financial advisers as it considers a bid for top South African cement maker PPC, according to people familiar with the matter. The German... 


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pqt: 0.075s - ct: 0.132s - 290pq - 2rq
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