Indian growth slows Cement production in India rose just 5% in the period April to September 1997, compared with an 11% increase in the same period one year earlier, according to a recent industry survey from the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The survey said the construction industry grew 14% in the corresponding period compared with 20% in the same period a year ago, highlighting the fact that the slowdown in growth was due to the high cost of finance and a delay in handing over building sites by clients.

The report also stated that cement production fell due to a shortage of good quality coal, power cuts, and a slowdown in industrial growth.

Citing a wagon shortage for Bangladesh and Nepal, as well as inadequate port facilities, the survey went on to state that cement exports dipped from a growth of 10.5% in 1996 to 5.5% in April-September 1997.

TCC makes moves on China TCC Hong Kong Cement Holdings has set up a joint venture with Anhui Conch Cement Co. to form a mainland-based cement manufacturing facility, according to the South China Morning Post.

The new facility, Anhui King Bridge Cement will be located at Wuhu in Anhui province and will have an annual production capacity of around 700,000 mt.

Through a subsidiary, TCC will invest US$9 million in the joint venture and will control 60% of the new company with Anhui Conch Cement Co. holding the remaining 40%.

The new plant, located on the banks of the Yangtze River, will supply Nanjing, the capital of Jaingsu province and Shanghai.

TCC general manager Leslie Koo Cheng-yun said, "Through the joint venture, we believe that the company can further expand its business in the PRC cement market and achieve the aim of becoming a major supplier of quality cement and ready-mixed concrete in the PRC."

Thailand ships out The proposal by major cement producers in Thailand to the cabinet for the export of domestic cement via six customs checkpoints finally was approved. The government ban was instigated in September 1995 to prevent cheap cement from entering the country, but it is now seen as nonsensical considering the current oversupply of cement in Thailand.

The slow down in Thailand's real estate sector has resulted in the excess of about 6 million mt of portland cement leading several major producers to demand a price rise.

If approved by the cabinet, estimates are that up to 20,000 mt of Thai cement could be exported to Malaysia.

Australian sale slows Cement maker Adelaide Brighton Ltd. announced recently that it would cease active marketing of its Burswood property in Perth until environmental and other issues with the property had been resolved.

"Discussions are still being held with several potential purchasers, but active marketing of the site will only resume after these issues have been resolved," group General Manager Tom Douglas said in a statement.

The company's Swan Portland Cement clinker plant at Burswood was closed last financial year, and the 19-hectare property adjacent to the Burswood Casino was put up for sale. The company said that areas of uncertainty had created potential concerns among some of the parties with whom it had been holding discussions. These areas included remediation of contamination, rezoning, external road issues, and geotechnical information.

Douglas said the issues were expected to be resolved early in 1998, and the company expected to complete a sale in the 1997-98 financial year.

Taiwan in China An overseas registered firm backed by Taiwanese money has signed a US$500 million deal to build a cement plant in China's southeastern Fujian province, according to a recent Reuters report.

The planned venture, in which Taiwanese investors control 90% and the Chinese side the remainder, will have a daily production capacity of 10,000 mt and is intended to supply the mainland market, with Taiwan as the major export market.

Although the Taiwan Economics Ministry officials would not confirm whether the new project had been individually approved, it did admit that it had authorized investments in China in more than 411 new industry categories, including hotels, travel agencies, recreation facilities, warehouses, and cement plants.