Top cement majors from Asia Cement Corp to Asia Cement Public Co., Cemex, Heidelberg Cement, Huaxin Cement, JK Cement, Nghi Son Cement, SCG Cement, Siam City Cement, Sinoma,  Ultratech Cement, and PT Semen Gresik Persero  will arrive in Yangon next week to confer with key officials and local players to gather first-hand insights on cement demand, new capacities and expansions, trading challenges in Asia, namely Myanmar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and China. Joining them are 10 foreign exhibitors profiling their technology and equipment at this one and a half day event held at the Sedona hotel on 13-14 September. 

The summit especially hosted in Yangon promises much sought-after knowledge exchanges for both local and foreign firms seeking broad view of the huge limestone supply and demand in Myanmar, looking to setting up plants, analysing challenges and trends of its cement industry, infrastructure development, construction activity, investment laws, economic prospects, and cement trading.

Among the key officials presenting at the summit are representative from Myanmar’s Ministry of Industry, U Ko Ko Hlaing, Chief Political Advisor to the President, Office of the President, Rep of the Union of Myanmar; U Kyaw Lin, Managing Director of Public Works, Ministry of Construction, Myanmar; Director from Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA); U Zaw Thein, Deputy Director of No. 3 Mining Enterprise, Ministry of Mines and U Soe Thein, Deputy Chief Civil Engineer, Myanmar Port Authority.

To see the complete agenda which includes a Networking Reception hosted by Parami Energy for speakers and delegates, visit the event website at http://www.cmtevents.com/aboutevent.aspx?ev=120939. Contact Ms. Grace at Tel. +65 6346 9147 or Email grace@cmtsp.com.sg for further enquiries and registrations.

The demand for cement and construction materials will go up as numerous developmental projects are taking place in Myanmar, including the upgrading of airports and sea ports.

According to Civil Aviation Department officials, two airports in Myanmar are to be upgraded to international standards. The one in Bago will become Hanthawaddy International Airport, and the other at Dawei deep-sea port will be Dawei International Airport.

At a cost of around US$4 million, the existing domestic terminal in Dawei is to be upgraded to international status within 3 years, said officials at the Civil Aviation Department. A report by Xinhua news agency said that foreign investment was invited, most likely from Japan and Singapore. It also reported that the Italian-Thai Development Public Company is expanding the runway at Dawei airport, while expansion of other facilities will follow.

As for the ports in Myanmar, local media reported that Myanmar authorities will launch port terminals upgrading project at Yangon Port in line with international standard within three years (2013-2015).

Reports said that the Myanmar Port Authorities will collaborate with private firms through joint ventures or build-operate-transfer (BOT) system in the three-year project, to ensure the provision of international standard services. Reconstruction of port terminal to international standard, setting up modern economic infrastructural building, upgrading of ports to facilitate cargo ships and installation of equipment for handling goods are some key objectives on the project agenda.

Of the five major port terminals, international cargo ships berth at Yangon port, Sule, Bo Aung Kyaw, Asia World and Myanmar International.

Spurred on by above developments, a Senior Representative from the Myanmar Port Authority has been invited to  give a talk on “Development & Modernisation of Myanmar Ports” at the 14^th Asia CemenTrade which will be held in Yangon from 13-14 September 2012. See here for more information on program agenda. To take part in this conference, one may Register now, or get in touch with Ms. Grace at grace@cmtsp.com.sg for any enquiries.

Sources: Myanmarupdate.com & Myanmar-business.org

The Indian cement industry, which is the second-largest globally, is welcoming consolidation. It was reported that market leader A V Birla group, French major Lafarge and Swiss specialist Holcim with the second-largest domestic capacity, are in talks with Jaiprakash Associates based in New Delhi, to acquire its cement plants in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. Lafarge’s focus is on readymix concrete as it plans to double its 8 MT capacity in the coming years, while Holcim’s capacity through ACC and Gujarat Ambuja is 45 MT.

According to analysts, the ratio of overall capacity utilisation rate to the utilisation rate at the breakeven point in a particular year has lowered in the past three years and remains at a level of two, implying pricing power. More capacity addition is in the pipeline, with about 86 million tonnes expected to be added in FY 12-14.

For the next two years, demand is likely to remain steady and rise at CAGR of 9.3%. This price trend would bring the Jaypee Group at least $ 160 per tonnes based on replacement value on its plants in western and southern India, of 2 units of 2.4 MT each and 1 unit of 5 MTPA respectively. Since cost of green-field capacity has gone up from $120/t to $160/t, these plants would be valued at around Rs. 9,000 crore.

Ultimately, cement demand indicates steady construction activity and proactive policy would enhance growth and investment.

In reference to above scenario, details of the demand, prospects and investment in India’s cement sector will be spotlighted at the 14^th Asia CemenTrade in Yangon from 13-14 September. Alok Agarwal, Senior Executive Director at Binani Cement is slated to deliver a session entitled “Is the Recovery of Cement Sector in India Sustainable”. Register here to be a part of this event or forward queries to Ms. Grace at grace@cmtsp.com.sg

Read complete article here.

The Government of Nagaland has agreed to a Rs 470crore cement plant development project. This cement plant with an annual production capacity of 1 million tonnes is targeted at exporting cement to its neighbour, Myanmar. French cement giant Lafarge has shown an interest in setting up the plant. The feasibility report is completed and the DPR is underway.

The plant is to be set up in Phek district of Nagaland which borders Myanmar, and recognized for its huge reserves of limestone deposits.  Besides Phek, Tuensang district, also bordering Myanmar has 100 million proven reserves of limestone and 1,000 million inferred reserves of the same. Through this proposed plant which would be the biggest in the north-east, the state expects to earn revenue from cement exports. 

In view of the various developments in the Asian cement sector, 14^th Asia CemenTrade on 13-14 September in Yangon is organized to offer a more comprehensive outlook. Alok Agarwal, Senior Executive Director, Binani Cement will share more on India’s cement sector in a presentation titled, “Is The Recovery of Cement Sector in India Sustainable?”. A Senior Representative from Shwe Me Co Ltd will hold a session on “Cement Trading & Distribution Challenges in Myanmar”.

While the details of the conference are being finalized, you may Pre-Register here and reserve seats to attend the event. Enquiries may be forwarded to grace@cmtsp.com.sg

Source: Projectsmonitor.com

The Jakarta Globe reported that PT Semen Gresik, an Indonesian cement producer plans to invest US$ 756m (IDR7 trillion) this year to build new cement plants in Java and Sumatra. The company will seek a bank loan to finance the construction of the plants, said Dwi Soetjipto, president director of state-owned Gresik. He also added that the company would seek shareholder approval for the construction on 26 June. “We will add the plants to directly support the production process, or the core business of the company,” he said.

The company is also planning to build a cement plant in Myanmar, as the local industry can only meet half of the domestic demand, said Semen Gresik’s finance director, Ahuanizzaman. The company is seeking a local partner in Myanmar, and construction of the 600,000 tons per year plant is expected to begin this year. The estimated cost of the plant is about IDR 1 trillion.

A more detailed examination and discussion of the rising cement demand and supply in Indonesia and Myanmar will be addressed at the 14^th Asia CemenTrade inYangon on13-14 September. Complete program details will be available shortly.

Meanwhile, one mayPre-Register and reserve seats to attend the event.Further queries can be forwarded to Ms. Grace at grace@cmtsp.com.sg

Read full article here.

After the significant decline in sales last year, Siam Cement Group (SCG), anticipates high volume in its cement exports to Myanmar. Marketing director of Thailand’s SCG, Syamrath Suthanukul affirmed, “In 2011, our cement exports to Myanmar were down by about 20 per cent from 2010 because of the changes that were taking place within the government. As a result, a number of projects were delayed. There were also fewer projects in 2011.” He affirmed that the transition to a democratic government in 2011 affected many construction projects and last year’s sales fell by 20%.

He also commented that the company is expecting an increased competition in the coming years, but is positive that it can maintain its sales position. He further added that the company supplied for a number of government projects, one of which was the Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw highway. “For 2012, we’re hoping the market will be great for us.”

Kan Trakulhoon, CEO and president of SCG, also recently remarked that the company has been studying options for a new cement plant in Myanmar. The investment depends on the Myanmar government's investment promotion policies and the policy on limestone mine ownership.

And that is precisely what CMT’s 14^th Asia CemenTrade scheduled in Yangon, Myanmar on 13-14 September 2012 seeks to explore. The program agenda aims to discuss the investment climate, opportunities  and demand for cement in Myanmar as well as other regional countries including Cambodia, Laos, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, China and more.

Details and schedule of the conference are currently underway.  To reserve seats, Pre-Register now!

For other enquiries, email grace@cmtsp.com.sg

View complete article here.