Azerbaijan: Concrete production fell by 0.8% year-on-year to 2.18Mt in the first half of 2026, according to data published by the State Statistics Committee. Production of precast concrete building structures also fell, by 17% to 37,400m³, Trend News Agency has reported.
Australia: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has conditionally approved Heidelberg Materials Australia Holdings' acquisition of Maas Group Holdings' building materials business. Heidelberg Materials Australia must now divest assets to address competition concerns in New South Wales and Queensland. The company says that it is seeking buyers for the Bass Point and North Wollongong ready-mix concrete plants in New South Wales and the Blackwater ready-mix concrete plant and Yalkara quarry in Biloela, both in Queensland.
SMB Tech News has reported that this decision is the ACCC's first under a new national merger control regime, since it took effect on 1 January 2026.
US: Clark Pacific plans to build a precast concrete plant in Coolidge, Arizona. BEX News has reported that the city council has approved rezoning of the site from agricultural to general industrial use. Clark Pacific will now also seek industrial redesignation of two on-site wells to supply water for use in concrete production.
South Korea: Construction firm Hoban Construction has developed an AI-based system to calculate the volumes of ready-mix concrete pours based on architectural plans and blueprints. Seoul Economic Daily News has reported that Hoban Construction has completed pilot projects at two sites. It will now begin rolling out the system across its construction sites.
