Displaying items by tag: volumes
Barbados: Trinidad Cement, owners of Arawak Cement Company, noted a decline in the Barbados cement market in 2023, according to its annual report.
Managing director Francisco Aguilera Mendoza said "In Barbados, the overall market declined by 14.3%, of which Arawak Cement Company experienced a decline of 8.8% in domestic cement volumes compared to 2022. Trinidad and Tobago’s cement export volume fell by almost 11% when compared to 2022, due to supply chain constraints and an increase in the local market demand. This drop in cement exports was almost fully compensated by our clinker exports to Barbados that started in 2023 after Arawak Cement’s change in its operating model.”
Nigeria: Dangote Cement's sales more than doubled to US$584m in the first quarter of 2024. Group earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 67% to US$221m. Profit grew by 3% to US$80.5m. Consolidated cement volumes rose by 16% to 7.3Mt, while domestic Nigerian volumes rose by 26% to 4.6Mt.
CEO Arvind Pathak said “These results underscore our ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic business environment while delivering value to our stakeholders.” He added “We continue to prioritise innovation, cleaner energy transition, and cost leadership towards achieving our vision of transforming Africa and building a sustainable future.”
ACC raises sales in fourth quarter of 2024
26 April 2024India: Adani Group subsidiary ACC raised its sales by 13% year-on-year to US$649m in the fourth quarter of the 2024 financial year, Mint News has reported. The company’s operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 78% to US$100m, leading its profit to rise by a factor of three to US$89.8m. ACC sold 10.4Mt of cement, up by 22% year-on-year from 8.5Mt, and 660,000m3 of ready-mix concrete, down by 7% from 710,000m3. For the full 2024 financial year, the company produced 36.9Mt of cement and 2.68Mm3 of ready-mix concrete. Its sales were US$2.4bn, its earnings US$368m and its profit US$280m. This was the first full-year financial report for a year ending on 31 March, following ACC’s transition from reporting years ending on 31 December as part of Germany-based HeidelbergCement (now Heidelberg Materials).
CEO Ajay Kapur said “The trust of our customers and our commitment to building a sustainable future with investment in efficiency improvements, green power etc. has furthered our success as we emerge even stronger than before.”
Cement production in Switzerland falls in first quarter
10 April 2024Switzerland: Cement production fell to 786,000t in the first quarter of 2024, representing a year-on-year decrease in volume of 8%. Cemsuisse attributes this decrease to ongoing challenges in planning construction projects amidst uncertainties in interest rates, energy prices and supply chain stability.
Uzbekistan records rise in cement production
08 April 2024Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan produced 1.35Mt of cement in January and February 2024. This production volume shows a year-on-year increase of 50%. In February 2024, the country produced 724,700t of cement.
Steppe Cement records decline in sales
05 April 2024Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement sold 175,383t of cement for US$8.5m in the first quarter of 2024, down from 214,832t for US$11m in the first quarter of 2023. This represents a year-on-year decline of 18% in volume and 23% in value. Despite the decrease in sales, its production of clinker grew by 25% year-on-year.
Cement sales in Kazakhstan declined by 12% to 1.69Mt in the first quarter of 2024. Exports fell by 6%, mainly due to reduced exports to Uzbekistan. Imports remained level at 4% of domestic demand, with the majority coming from Russia. Steppe Cement anticipates a total market demand of approximately 11Mt in Kazakhstan for 2024, a 5% year-on-year decrease. Rising transport costs and an increased proportion of shipments to southern Kazakhstan resulted in low margins, according to the company.
‘Cheap’ imports threaten South African cement industry
26 March 2024South Africa: The South African cement industry faces plant closures and job losses due to an influx of ‘cheap’ cement imports, according to a recent study. Chronux Research found that cement imports to South Africa rose by nearly 20% in 2023, despite logistical challenges at ports. The firm's cement import monitor shows imported cement volumes increased by 18% in 2023 to 979,000t, with a notable 43% year-on-year growth in the second half of the year.
"Cement imports continue to be able to navigate the port and supply chain issues in South Africa with minimal impact," reads the report, highlighting the government's lack of protective measures for local cement producers. Vietnam, Mozambique, Namibia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were the primary sources of these imports.
Chronux Research director Rowan Goeller expressed confusion over how imports are bypassing the country’s congested ports. The local industry has been lobbying for tariff protection against imported cement. The capacity of South Africa's cement production stands at 20Mt/yr, but only 12Mt/yr is currently produced.
A report by PPC Cement and the Gordon Institute of Business Science revealed in September 2023 that South Africa’s cement industry is operating at two-thirds of its capacity, citing displacement by imports and low demand as major factors. This underutilisation could lead to job losses and government revenue collections, according to the report.
Economic adviser for the Optimum group, Roelof Botha, raised concerns about the quality standards of imported products and their impact on local employment. He said "The extent to which the imported product displaces the locally manufactured products will ultimately also replace domestic employment," highlighting the government's slow response and the potential risks associated with poor-quality imports in construction.
France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies recorded a turnover of Euro6m in 2023, more than double the figure for 2022. The company sold 21,378t of its clinker-free alternative cement, up by 78% year-on-year, but under its target of 24,000t. It strengthened its order book by 8% to 260,000t.
The company confirmed its existing financial objectives, namely: to achieve positive earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in 2024; an operating profit in 2025; and a turnover of Euro130m by 2026.
Uruguayan cement production drops in 2023
15 February 2024Uruguay: Uruguay produced 27% less cement in 2023 than in 2022. Prensa Latina News has reported that state-owned Ancap, which operates two of the country’s four cement plants, reported a year-on-year drop in production of 29%, to 21,700t, in December 2023. The company’s least productive month in terms of volumes was June 2023, when it recorded 8570t.
Cemex reports sales growth in 2023
09 February 2024Mexico: Cemex reported sales of US$17.4bn in 2023, up by 8% year-on-year from 2022 levels. Meanwhile, the group’s operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 20% to US$3.35bn. The producer said that strong product pricing in all markets and slowing costs inflation compounded the positive effects of its growth investment strategy. On a consolidated basis, Cemex’s cement sales volumes fell by 6% to 51.7Mt from 55.1Mt. They rose by 3% in Mexico but fell by 10% in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, by 3% in South and Central America and the Caribbean and by 13% in the US.
Chief executive officer Fernando González said "I am pleased to announce that 2023 is a great year for our company where we delivered not only great results and recovered from the extraordinary inflationary pressures of the last few years, but also continued executing against our ambitious decarbonisation commitments, reducing our CO2 emissions by 4% year-on-year and by 13% since 2020. Despite the significant macro challenges of the last four years, we have proven not only the resilience of our business model but also our ability to pivot and adjust rapidly to changing global conditions. This foundation gives us additional flexibility in capital allocation, where we continue to accelerate investments in our bolt-on growth strategy, initiate a sustainable return programme for shareholders and bolster our capital structure."