Belgium’s Carmeuse Group has acquired a controlling stake of 97.1 percent in Cementos Bío Bío S.A. (CBB), a Chilean industrial group listed on the Santiago Stock Exchange. The public tender offer closed on 11 September 2025, with results published today in Chile.
The deal strengthens Carmeuse’s footprint in South America, complementing its existing operations in Colombia and Brazil. It also aligns with the group’s strategy of diversifying into growth markets and expanding exposure to industries linked to the energy transition.
CBB, founded in 1957, is a key supplier to the copper and lithium mining sectors – two drivers of regional economic growth – as well as to the construction industries in Chile and Peru. The group operates four cement plants in Chile, one in Peru, two lime plants in Chile, one in Argentina, and 27 concrete plants across Chile. In 2024, it generated sales of around USD 400 million with 960 employees.
Carmeuse, headquartered in Louvain-la-Neuve, will work closely with CBB’s existing management team to ensure continuity and accelerate growth. Founded in 1860, Carmeuse is a global producer of lime, limestone and mineral-based products, with operations across Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, generating approximately 2 billion euros in annual turnover.
The acquisition underlines the appetite of Belgian industrial groups for strategic cross-border M&A in high-growth regions, particularly in sectors tied to infrastructure and natural resources.
