Introduction |
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At present over 100 million tons per year of cement and cement related products (such as clinker, slag and flyash) are distributed by sea. Nowadays, cement produced in Southeast Asia can reach the US east coast or West Europe in large bulkcarriers. But cement is also distributed over shorter distances, for example within the Mediterranean sea in coastal vessels or along the big rivers in the USA or Europe in barges.
This website tries to provide information on this distribution of cement by sea or inland waters. Cement distribution is created by fluctuations in the World economy causing overproduction of cement and clinker in some regions in the world and shortages in other regions.
Cement manufacturers with surplus production capacity will want to export cement. Companies that want to import cement are generally cement manufacturers that are operating at peak capacity and want to import cement to keep their market share in a growing market. Cement importers can also be ready mix related companies that want to secure their own cement supply.
To distribute cement by sea from one country to another three items are required:
Cement trade is the process of bringing together the supplier (exporter) and buyer (importer) and making sure that the economical, logistical and physical aspects of the cement movement fit together. Although cement trade is dominated by the large multinational groups in the industry, still a substantial part of cement trade is done by independent companies.
Cement transportation is the physical movement of the cement by ship. For ocean crossing, long distance transportation, large bulkcarriers are used. For short distances smaller cargo vessels and coastal ships. For distribution along rivers and on lakes either self-propelled or push barges are use. cement is shipped in either general type (bulk) cargo vessels or in specialised cement carriers with self unloading capabilities.
Cement terminals are required both on the export side and import side of the cement distribution. Export terminals have the facilities to receive cement from the manufacturing plant and to load this cement into ships. Import terminals have the facilities to unload ships and to distribute the cement forward to the local market either in bulk or in bags by means of trucks, trains or barges. In most cases export and import terminals have a (large) storage facility as a buffer between receiving and dispatching. Not only the terminal concept itself is important but also terminal operations.
Cement Distribution Consultants is a knowledge provider on all above aspects of cement distribution (and distribution of cement related products such as clinker, flyash and slag). Substantial information is available on this website but if you need further information please contact us.
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