Brazil cement industry urged to cut reliance on imported fuel

The Associação Brasileira de Cimento Portland (ABCP) is urging the Brazilian cement industry to accelerate efforts to replace imported petroleum coke with alternative fuels, highlighting the sector's vulnerability to global energy shocks and the urgent need for decarbonization. In a statement released May 25, ABCP emphasized that about 80% of the petroleum coke used in Brazilian cement kilns is imported, exposing the industry to unpredictable costs and supply risks.

ABCP's statement underscores that this dependency not only threatens economic resilience but also hampers the industry's ability to compete in a rapidly changing market. "The need to reduce reliance on fossil inputs and advance consistently in decarbonization is both an environmental imperative and a strategy for economic resilience," the association said.

According to ABCP, one of the main strategies for replacing petroleum coke is co-processing, which allows cement plants to substitute for fossil fuels with alternatives such as biomass and urban waste. The association notes that Brazil has already achieved a 30% thermal substitution rate, preventing the emission of about 2.8 million tons of CO₂ annually. Investments of R$ 3.5 billion are planned by 2030 to further expand the use of waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills, the statement adds.

ABCP also points out that while replacing petroleum coke is crucial, a significant share of emissions comes from the chemical processes in cement production. To address this, the association advocates integrating Nature-Based Solutions (SbN), such as reforestation and ecosystem restoration, as complementary tools to offset emissions that current technologies cannot yet eliminate.

The association stresses that Brazil's unique natural conditions offer a competitive advantage for large-scale regeneration projects. However, ABCP warns that regulatory clarity is needed regarding the role of SbN in frameworks such as the Brazilian Emissions Trading System, stating, "Ignoring this potential would mean wasting one of the country's main competitive advantages in the low-carbon economy."

Data from Global Trade Atlas (GTA) show that Brazil's imports of petroleum coke have surged in recent years, rising from about 5.3 million metric tons in 2020 to over 9.4 million metric tons in 2025, reflecting the sector's continued exposure to international market volatility.