Displaying items by tag: Argentina
Argentina: The National Commission for the Defence of Competition (CNDC) has concluded an investigation into the cement industry with the finding that all four Argentinian cement producers colluded to maintain high prices between 2013 and 2018. Cementera Avellaneda, Holcim Argentina, Loma Negra and Petroquímica Comodoro Rivadavia (PCR) reportedly increased their sales by US$178m between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2018 through cost overruns generated by their control of local markets.
The CNDC ordered the Portland Cement Manufacturers Association (AFCP) to refrain from distributing competitively sensitive information production, dispatches and imports information between its member companies.
Argentina: Holcim Argentina has appointed Julio Asnal as its Director of Sales and Integral Solutions. He will lead the company’s sales strategy.
Asnal’s prior professional experience includes working as a regional director for Danone and as a commercial director for Coca-Cola FEMSA, where he also held marketing and strategic planning roles. Most recently he has worked in management positions for Promedon over the last decade. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the National University of Córdoba and a master's degree in Business Administration from IAE in Buenos Aires.
Argentina: Holcim Argentina has published its 10th Sustainable Development Report, detailing its sustainability progress in 2021. That year, it reduced its CO2 emissions per tonne of cementitious material by 4.2% compared to 2017, to 505kg/t from 527kg/t. It sourced 43% of all electricity used in its operations renewably and achieved 8.4% alternative fuel (AF) substitution in its cement production. During the year, Holcim implemented ECO-labels to designate products with at least 30% CO2 emissions reduction.
Holcim Argentina’s CEO Christian Dedeu said “This decade of reports demonstrates our strong commitment to sustainability and governance that considers economic, social and environmental impacts. The conviction of the importance of reviewing performance and being accountable for our impacts made it possible.”
Argentina: Loma Negra’s first-quarter sales were US$171m in 2022, up by 20% year-on-year from US$143m in the first quarter of 2021. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were US$60m, up by 14% from US$52m, while its net profit was US$41m, up by 11% from US$37m. The producer’s cement, masonry and lime sales volumes rose by 6.6% in the quarter to 1.48Mt from 1.38Mt.
Argentina: Data from the Asociación de Fabricantes de Cemento Portland (AFCP) shows that cement shipments grew by 7% year-on-year to 2.89Mt in the first quarter of 2022 from 2.71Mt in the same period in 2021. Local consumption of cement increased at a similar rate but exports rose by 18% to 31,040t from 26,276t.
Holcim Argentina launches gender inclusivity hackathon
07 April 2022Argentina: Holcim Argentina has launched a hackathon for project proposals aimed at boosting gender inclusivity in the Argentinian construction sector. Projects may fall along one or more target axes: awareness, education and training, enterprise or public policy. Two winning projects will claim US$300,000 each in prize money, and the contest is open to anyone over 18. The company says that the hackathon is an invite to open a conversation about the presence and appreciation of women in cement and construction.
Argentina: Christian Dedeu, the chief executive officer of Holcim Argentina, has warned that there is no guarantee that there will be gas available for his company’s cement plants in the winter of 2022. In an interview with the El Cronista newspaper, Dedeu said that energy prices had risen due to the war in Ukraine and that importing liquefied gas by ship was becoming both harder and more expensive.
He also expressed concern about the government system of price controls on bagged cement, which had made it cheaper to buy bagged instead of bulk cement. Smaller companies are already reportedly buying large consignments of bagged cement and breaking it up to save money.
Loma Negra’s sales and earnings climb in 2021
08 March 2022Argentina: Loma Negra’s full-year sales rose to US$655m in 2021, up by 17% year-on-year from 2020 levels. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 15% to US$215m. Nonetheless, an increased operating income only partially offset the impacts of a higher income tax rate. During the year, the producer inaugurated its L’Amali cement plant’s new Line 2.
Argentina: Holcim Argentina has appointed Sergio Vaimberg as its Chief Marketing Officer. He joined Holcim in mid-2020 with roles in Argentina and Mexico, according to the Norte en Linea newspaper. Prior to this he worked mostly for Coca-Cola in Argentina. Vaimberg is a certified public accountant, holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and has a postgraduate degree in leadership from the Harvard Business School.
Argentine cement despatches rise by 23% to 12.1Mt in 2021
24 January 2022Argentina: Data from the Association of Portland Cement Manufacturers (AFCP) shows that total cement despatches grew by 23% year-on-year to 12.1Mt in 2021 from 9.87Mt in 2020. Cement consumption rose at a similar rate to despatches. However, exports fell by 13% to 115,000t in 2021 from 132,000t in 2020. Annual cement despatches have previously fallen in consecutive years since 2018. This trend started to change in the autumn of 2021.