World cement demand will continue to grow, report says A new study published by Ocean Shipping Consultants Ltd analyzes the current and recent pattern of cement supply/demand throughout the world.The 20 5-page, US$985 report also presents detailed forecasts on the likely and potential development of cement production, consumption, and trade to 2010.

According to the report, world production and consumption of cement approximated 1.54 billion mt in 1999, an increase of 2.2% from the previous year. The implied global profile is one of positive development throughout the study period, taking the 1999 annual volume up to around 1.88 billion mt by 2005, and 2.11 billion mt by 2010.

Of the total 563 million mt forecasted increase in world cement consumption, Asia is set to account for 356 million mt or 63%. Central and South America is estimated to account for 58 million mt, with expansion of 75 million mt for Africa/Middle East. The total for North America is set to be 9 mt lower in 2010 than in 1999.

The latest seaborne trade level represents less than 70% of all cement traded. Europe and Asia account for approximately 43% and 38% of the global export aggregate, with corresponding levels of relative significance of 25% and 24.5% for imports.

While North American exports represent just over 6% of world trade, imports currently account for almost 23% of all trade. A similar imbalance is noted for Africa, accounting for 3.5% of world exports and almost 15% of imports.

The aggregate import volume for North America is forecast to increase over the near- term from the approximate 25 million mt of 1998 to around 29 million mt, before new capacity in the United States causes import requirements to fall.

Given the outlook for cement consumption in the United States, the overall North American import aggregate is projected to fall to around 17 million mtpy by 2005 and to 13 million mtpy by the end of the decade.

To order the report, contact:

Study Sales Dept.

Ocean Shipping Consultants Ltd

Ocean House, 60 Guildford St.

Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9BE

England

telephone: (+44)1932 560332;

fax (+44)1932 567084

e-mail: oceanshipping@compuserve.com

22nd annual Cement Microscopy Conference The 22nd annual International Cement Microscopy Association conference will be held April 30 to May 4 at the Wyndham Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.

More than 35 technical papers authored and presented by the top microscopists from around the world will be given as well as a panel session on "Alternative Raw Material for Clinker and Cement Manufacture."

A cement plant tour of the Ciment Quebec facility; a trip to Old Quebec City, home of some of the earliest buildings on the North American continent; and a wine and cheese reception hosted by Roan Industries are highlights of this year's meeting.

Attendance at all sessions is for registered attendees only. Registration at the conference will be $300, $200 for speakers. Hotel reservations must be made directly with the hotel.

This year's conference is sponsored by the Eastern Canada cement manufacturers-Essroc, Lafarge, St. Lawrence, Blue Circle, and Ciment Quebec. Other sponsors are Claisse, Roan Industries, and W.R. Grace.

For more information, contact William Carruthers at (+1) 618-524-7291 or e-mail: billcarruthers@hcis.net.

Blue Circle, Lafarge launch e-businesses British cement giant Blue Circle Industries in March launched an internet cement-trading exchange with business-to-business electronic commerce provider Just2Clicks.com.

Blue Circle, which is defending itself against a US$5.5 billion takeover bid from French rival Lafarge, said the cement exchange (www.e-cement.com) will provide an open, transparent market for the procurement and sales of plant, parts, bulk materials, and related products. The company added that it aimed to reduce the procurement process and costs for customers and suppliers, increase buying power for independent purchasers by grouping orders, release working capital through inventory reductions, and deliver shipping and logistical support services.

Blue Circle said the business will operate a global news and information forum for the cement industry. The procurement market will commence sometime in April 2000 and cement trading is intended to be launched later this summer. The business will be 60% owned by Blue Circle and 40% by Just2Clicks, with an initial investment of US$8 million made in proportion to each shareholder.

In February, Lafarge's North American building materials division, Lafarge Corp., entered into its own e-business, becoming a strategic equity partner in BuildNet, an e-business company that is linking homebuilders with material distributors and suppliers over the internet.

Lafarge signed on during BuildNet's recent round of financing, which was one of the largest single private placements in the U.S., according to the company. "We are excited about the opportunity that Lafarge will have to help direct and prepare for the industry's evolution," said John Piecuch, president and CEO of Lafarge Corp.

CTL names new officers Construction Technology Laboratories, Inc. (CTL) announced promotions of four executives to vice presidential positions as part of a corporate realignment.

"Ronald Burg, Adrian Ciolko, Kevin Michols, and Thomas Rewerts were promoted to these new positions to allow CTL to focus on our selected targeted markets and expand our offerings to those markets," said Tony Fiorato, president of CTL.

Burg was promoted to vice president of materials technology and joined CTL in 1983.

Ciolko, vice president of structural laboratory, has been with the company since 1977.

Michols, who joined CTL in 1984, is vice president of structural and architectural engineering.

Rewerts was promoted to vice president of technical operations/business development. He was hired in 1997 as senior principal engineer.

"Each of these gentlemen has shown exceptional leadership, creativity, and dedication to CTL's ongoing success, and are known for their past contributions to this organization, the engineering profession and the construction marketplace," Fiorato said.

Florida Rock wins another court battle In welcome news for Florida Rock Industries, the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida issued a ruling on Feb. 29, 2000 that voided the Alachua County Commission's January 1999 action to apply more stringent air-emission standards on the company's plant near Newberry, Fla. The proposed emission limits were even more strict than those permitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The ruling allows the plant to operate under air pollution levels that the state approved in its air construction permits.

Calif. producer uses new construction method A new home-building technology has been applied to an industrial use at Hanson Per-manente Cement's $7 million computerized truck loading center in Northern California.

Polystyrene blocks are stacked to create exterior walls, reinforced with steel, and pumped full of concrete to form a 19- Yen 72-ft, single-story scalehouse. The utilitarian scalehouse will accommodate offices for the weighmaster and two clerks.

International Cement 2000 call for papers International Cement 2000, the 36th annual cement seminar (sponsored by Cement Americas) will be held Dec. 3-6, 2000 at the Charleston Area Convention Center, Charleston, S.C. We invite anyone wishing to present a paper at this year's event to contact us. We're looking for presentations on the following topics:

* Innovations in cement processing;

* Equipment recently installed in a cement plant that has helped to improve production and reduce costs;

* The Latin American cement industry;

* Utilizing waste products in cement kilns;

* Marketing ideas that work for the cement industry;

* Innovative material-handling techniques at the cement plant or at terminals; and

* The impact that Asian cement may have on the markets of the Americas.

If you have suggestions for presentations, please send us an outline or abstract, or give us a call to discuss your idea. Suggestions should be sent to:

Steven Prokopy, Editor

steven_prokopy@intertec.com

Cement Americas

29 North Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606, USA

telephone: (+1) 312-609-4335

fax: (+1) 312-726-4107