Displaying items by tag: Cemex

Philippines: Cemex has announced that it is undertaking a new US$300m investment in the Philippines. The new investment will include the construction of a new 1.5Mt/yr integrated cement production line at its Solid Plant in Luzon. This will double the capacity of the Solid plant and will represent a 25% increase in its cement capacity in the Philippines.

"We see a positive outlook in the business environment and we are committed to be a reliable cement supplier given the growing need for high quality building materials required for public infrastructure, commercial projects and housing," said Fernando A Gonzalez CEO of Cemex.

Earlier this month, Cemex Philippines officially inaugurated the completed capacity expansion in its APO plant in Cebu, as well as a network of logistics centres in Visayas and Mindanao. The US$80m investment increased Cemex's cement production capacity in its APO plant by 40% and helped improve distribution capabilities with additional terminals in Iloilo and Davao.

"We are preparing our facilities for the increasing demand in the Philippines, reiterating our commitment to supporting the development of the country," said Joaquin Estrada, president of Cemex Asia. "We endeavour to be a partner of the Philippine government and the business community in ensuring growth and progress."

In addition, Cemex Philippines has set up a US$18.6m waste heat recovery (WHR) unit that will capture the excess heat in one of its cement production facilities to produce usable electricity. Cemex Philippines already uses alternative fuels like rice husks and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) as part of its fuel mix to minimise energy costs.

Mexico: Cemex has announced that in the first quarter of 2015, which ended on 31 March 2015, it achieved higher prices in local currency terms in most operations, as well as higher volumes in Mexico, the US and Asia.

Cemex's consolidated net sales reached US$3.4bn during the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 7% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis for ongoing operations and adjusting for currency fluctuations. Operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 6% year-on-year to US$569m. On a like-for-like basis, operating EBITDA increased by 14% in the same period. On a like-for-like basis, operating earnings before other expenses, net, in the first quarter increased by 33% to US$335m.

Cemex has reported a narrower controlling interest net loss of US$149m during the first quarter of 2015 from a loss of US$293m in the same period of 2014. Its controlling interest net income was a loss of US$149m, an improvement over a loss of US$293m in the same period of 2014.

"We are pleased with our first-quarter results," said Fernando A Gonzalez, CEO of Cemex. "Our net sales increased by 7% year-on-year, while operating EBITDA improved by 14% on a like-for-like basis. EBITDA generation was the highest since 2008, despite adverse currency fluctuations. We are encouraged by the performance of our operations in Mexico, where first-quarter cement volumes grew by 13%, reaching the highest level in six years. This quarter, on top of the sustained increase in our volumes to the industrial, commercial and formal residential sectors, we also saw growth in the infrastructure and informal residential sectors. Cement demand from the infrastructure sector grew by 6%, marking an inflection point driven by increased public-works spending, while demand from the informal residential sector grew by 11% as a result of higher consumer confidence due to improvements in employment, disposable income and remittances."

Net sales in Mexico increased by 4% in the first quarter of 2015 to US$766m, compared with US$737m in the first quarter of 2014. Operating EBITDA increased by 4% to US$262m.

Cemex's operations in the US reported net sales of US$868m in the first quarter of 2015, up by 10% from the same period in 2014. Operating EBITDA increased to US$64m in the quarter compared to US$28m in the same quarter of 2014.

In Northern Europe, Cemex's net sales for the first quarter decreased by 23% to US$701m, compared with US$912m in the first quarter of 2014. Operating EBITDA was US$36m compared to US$13m in 2014. On a like-for-like basis for the ongoing operations and adjusting for currency fluctuations, net sales remained flat and operating EBITDA increased 80% year-on-year.

First quarter net sales in the Mediterranean region were US$375m, 9% lower than the US$412m in the first quarter of 2014. Operating EBITDA decreased by 11% to US$73m for the quarter. On a like-for-like basis, for the ongoing operations and adjusting for currency fluctuations, net sales increased by 2% and operating EBITDA decreased by 3%.

Cemex's operations in South, Central America and the Caribbean reported net sales of US$468m during the first quarter of 2015, representing a 13% decrease over the same period of 2014. Operating EBITDA decreased by 21% to US$148m in the first quarter of 2015, from US$187m in the first quarter of 2014.

Operations in Asia reported a 13% increase in net sales for the first quarter of 2015 to US$164m and operating EBITDA rose by 43% year-on-year to US$37m.

Philippines: Cemex Philippines has recently completed a US$67.3m cement mill at its Apo cement plant in Naga, Cebu as part of its comprehensive expansion plan in the country. The mill increases the capacity of the Cemex Apo plant by 1.5Mt/yr and Cemex's production capacity in the Philippines by 40%.

"We in Cemex are proud improving the standards of life of the people, proud of producing and distributing valuable products and services and doing it in a way that has a positive impact to our communities," said Pedro Palomino, Cemex Philippines president. Aside from the cement mill in Cebu, Cemex Philippines has also finished the construction of new marine distribution terminals located in Manila, Iloilo and Davao amounting to a total of US$22.4m.

Costa Rica: Cemex and Holcim have appealed against the Ministry of Finance, Industry and Trade (MEIC) over new certification requirements. Cemex has explained that its cement has been accredited since 2005 and it presented all necessary documentation on 10 April 2015 following a request from the MEIC. Cemex believes that government authorities have made a series of errors in their procedures and asked for the necessary corrections, according to local media.

Holcim Costa Rica has made assurances that it adheres to technical requirements and every year the national technical standards institute (Inteco) certifies its cement. Holcim will appeal against the government decision for new certification. Cement importer Sinocem has not appealed against this resolution, so it will have to present its certification in six months.

This week saw the announcement that Cemex and Holcim are both upping their stakes in Nicaragua to increase production. The companies have stated that they expect cement demand to grow significantly in the near future.

Holcim has started work on a US$10m project to increase production by 30% to 400,000t/yr at its Nagarote grinding plant. A second expansion phase will see production raised another 30%. Cemex, for its part, is building a US$55m, 440,000t/yr grinding plant in Ciudad Sandino. Completion is expected by 2017.

These new developments will make significant additions to Nicaragua's cement industry. Currently, it consists of one Cemex-owned 600,000t/yr integrated plant and one Holcim-owned 300,000t/yr grinding plant.

Nicargua has the dubious honour of being Central America's least developed economy and one of the poorest among all of the Americas. In recent years, however, its economy has grown dramatically, with significant expansion in the construction and mining sectors, indicating that Holcim and Cemex are right to bet on Nicargua. Indeed, late in 2014 president of the High Council of Private Enterprise, José Adán Aguerri said that the country had a significant cement shortage and was currently importing from Mexico and Colombia to meet its needs.

Driving cement demand in Nicaragua is the residential housing sector boosted by the growing population, much-needed infrastructure projects and the country's most controversial project, the Nicaragua Grand Canal. The canal will be, according to local media, a 'commercial waterway that will reshape commercial shipping, reap a windfall for investors and haul one of the hemisphere's poorest nations out of poverty.' Heavily backed by Chinese investors, it is deeply unpopular with industry experts and locals alike. There have been lots of questions as to whether there is enough demand for the canal, while its construction will divert scant resources, particularly water, away from agriculture, the country's main industry. The project will, however, contribute significantly to cement demand until its completion, which is expected in 2019.

So is Nicaragua the place to be? Its near-future economic and construction sector outlooks certainly look strong, but the cement industry relies heavily on long-term infrastructure plans, which are sorely lacking. Additionally, none of Nicaragua's neighbouring countries have noteworthy cement deficits. This means that export market opportunities from Nicaragua are in short supply. Nicaragua's future depends overwhelmingly on its leaders' long term-planning abilities...

Nicaragua: Cement companies Holcim and Cemex are increasing their investments in Nicaragua in preparation to supply the volumes required by the country over the coming years.

Holcim Nicaragua has inaugurated a US$10m project that will increase production by 30% and exceed 400,000t/yr. The business now has a new dynamic separator at its plant in Nagarote that will increase production through a more efficient use of raw materials and energy resources. It has also announced a second expansion phase, involving a US$6m investment to increase production by another 30%. The company, which has a 47% stake in the national cement market has ensured that it has sufficient reserves to produce the same volume of cement for 50 years.

Similarly, Cemex Nicaragua is building a US$55m plant in Ciudad Sandino in order to increase its annual production from 440,000t/yr to 800,000t/yr from 2017.

Colombia: The corporate affairs vice president of Cemex in Colombia, Daniel Suarez, has said that the company is bringing forward the expansion of its Caracolito plant, which is responsible for 30% of Colombia's cement supply.

The project includes the expansion of the existing quarry with an additional 110,000m² of land, a complete reconstruction of the kilns and the replacement of the air treatment filters. Cemex will also open a new plant in the northeast of Antioquia.

Cemex's Colombian sales have exceeded 1Mt/month in recent months, driven by projects like '4G motorways' and housing schemes. Cemex does not export any cement from Colombia. 65% of its revenues in the country come from individuals who buy cement to either build new rooms for their homes or build a home by themselves. 35% is sold to construction firms.

UK: Martin Langvad has been appointed as vice president of cement operations and technology (Northern Europe). Martin has worked for Cemex for 19 years and has more than 30 years experience in the cement industry. With the reorganisation of Cemex in Germany, he has taken over responsibility for cement production in the UK and will continue to be the head of the Northern Europe cement operations.

Philip Baynes-Clarke has taken over responsibility as plant director at Rugby cement plant. His previous role as plant director at the South Ferriby, Humberside plant has been taken by Jan Kristof Peters. Baynes-Clarke has been in the cement industry for 13 years and started at Rugby cement plant as a graduate process engineer.
Jan Kristof Peters has worked for Cemex Germany for five years, starting as a process engineer and more recently as a production manager at the Kollenbach plant. Prior to joining Cemex, Peters worked in the lime industry.

Colombia: Colombia's Superintendent of Industry and Commerce (SIC) is expected to issue a final ruling on its on-going competition investigation into the local cement industry. SIC intends to announce its findings by the middle of 2015 according to comments SIC head Pablo Felipe Robledo del Castillo made to local press. Meanwhile, Robledo also said he plans to present a bill on 16 March 2015 that would strengthen the sanctions for anticompetitive practices in Colombia.

"This rule will allow us to increase the sanctions above the nominal amount of US$25m, the current maximum, by adding percentages of a company's revenues or equity, in order to bolster the penalties," said Robledo.

SIC announced in late 2013 that it was investigating whether executives at Colombian cement companies had colluded to inflate cement prices in country since as early as 2010. The investigation targeted 14 current and former top directors at five firms, including Cementos Argos, Cemex and Holcim.

Venezuela: Cemex has reached an agreement with the trade union representing its workers, Sintracea, regarding a new collective agreement. It is understood that discussions over a new agreement had been stalled for several years. As part of the new agreement, workers will receive a pay rise of Euro426, effective from 1 April 2015. This will benefit 1043 workers employed by Cemex at its plant in Pertigalete, Guanta, Anzoategui.