Heidelberg Materials in Germany is regarding CCS as a key lever to achieve climate goals, however strategies have changed. Because the costs for CO2 transport and storage can be as high as the capture costs, the transport and storage challenges are fully reviewed and optimised. One such example is the ANRAV decarbonisation project at the Devnya cement plant in Bulgaria (photo). In the first concept, captured CO2 from the plant near Varna should be connected with offshore storage sites of oil and gas company Petroceltic and injected under the Black Sea. In the latest approach, Heidelberg Materials decided for a 20 km pipeline transport and CO2 storage in an underground reservoir close to the cement plant. This will reduce the downstream decarbonisation costs significantly.

In May 2026, Vietnam produced 9.51 Mt of cement. Of this, 7.71 Mt were for the local consumption and about 1.80 for cement exports (excl. stocks).

In the first 5 months in 2026, China’s cement production decreased by -9.4% YoY to 596.99 Mt, after 659.16 Mt in the same period last year and 690.68 Mt in the year before.

Carbon capture must become cheaper and easier to implement. This is one of the key messages by Dr. Kristina Fleiger of the German VDZ in an award-winning presentation at the Global CemCCUS conference in Hamburg in Germany this month. In her presentation she highlighted the technical challenges cement plants face, when implementing CCUS technologies and she presented practical approaches to overcoming them (Figure). A key focus is the interface between the cement plant and the carbon capture unit. Very important is: Cement plant operators must do their homework first: Reducing CO₂ emissions at the source and preparing plant operations for future carbon capture integration.

In the first 4 months in 2026, Bolivia’s cement production declined by -15.56% YoY to 1.059 Mt, after 1.254 Mt in the last year and 1.280 Mt in the year before.

In the first 5 months in 2026, Peru’s cement production (Asocem associated producers) increased by +12.4% YoY to 4.945 Mt, after 4.399 Mt in the same period last year and 4.367 Mt in the year before.

Cementos Avellaneda, which is a subsidiary of the Molins Group, has acquired a 70% majority stake in construction products company Prokrete Argentina. The company’s Protex brand covers a wide spectrum of specialized construction chemicals: waterproofing agents, concrete admixtures, joint sealants, industrial flooring and coatings, as well as repair mortars, anchoring and grouting products, and decorative coatings and flooring. The company has a presence in more than 10 countries in Latin America. Protex's prior owners will remain as minority shareholders with board representation.