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Just before the end of 2012 Holcim sold shares in companies it owned in Thailand and Guatemala. It reduced its stake in Siam City Cement Company (SCCC) in Thailand from 36.8% to 27.5% and it sold its entire 20% minority stake in Cementos Progreso in Guatemala. For the sale of these two share packages Holcim received approximately Euro310m.

This is interesting given that Asia-Pacific was the Switzerland-based multinational's biggest sales area in 2011 and because sales of cement rose by 6% in Latin America in 2011. Similarly in 2012 from January to September the two regions propped up the group's profits. Why would Holcim sell stakes into two of its most profitable regions?

In its third quarter report in 2012 Holcim repeatedly described Thailand as 'encouraging' following floods in 2011. It added that it had focused increasingly on the cement market in the country and strengthened its position in neighbouring countries that resulted in lower clinker exports.

According to the Global Cement Directory 2013 SCCC has a capacity of 31Mt/yr, 65% of Thailand's total capacity of 48Mt/yr. SCCC predicted in December 2012 that domestic cement demand would increase by 5-10% in 2013. The company is currently planning to build new plants in Indonesia and Cambodia and is considering investing in Myanmar. In Indoniesia Holcim is the third biggest producer after Semen Gresik and HeidelbergCement subsidiary Indocement.

Meanwhile in Central America, Cementos Progreso was the sole producer in Guatemala with 2.5Mt/yr from two plants. This was set to double with the commissioning of a third plant towards the end of 2012. However, Holcim retains seven plants in southern Mexico (12Mt/yr), both of El Salvador's plants (2Mt/yr) and a plant in Costa Rica (1Mt/yr).

With Holcim's strong presence in Central America and the North American market reviving leaving Guatemala makes sense with the group's debt reduction programme in mind. The situation in Thailand is more complex, so unsurprisingly Holcim has reduced its stake rather than leaving completely. SCCC's expansion plans outside of Thailand suggest, that although growing, the market is maturing. In one such potential expansion target, Indonesia, Holcim is already a major producer.

In its press release announcing the sales in Thailand and Guatemala, Holcim attributed the decision to its ongoing debt reduction programme. As part of its 'Leadership Journey' the group intends to save Euro1.25bn by the end of 2014. Other savings in 2012 included reducing management in Europe, layoffs and closures in Australia, a plant closure in Hungary, further delays on the decision to build a new plant in New Zealand and layoffs in Spain. The management changes in Europe alone contributed a Euro99m chunk of Holcim's target saving of Euro124m for 2012.

Yet it's worth considering that a week after the sales of its shares Holcim's subsidiary in India, Ambuja Cements, announced investments of Euro277m in India. Perhaps the best way to save money is to make more money.

Thailand/Guatemala: Holcim Ltd has reduced its shareholding in Siam City Cement Company Ltd (SCCC) from 36.8% to 27.5%. The shares have been purchased by Bangkok Broadcasting and Television, a Ratanarak Group company, which will increase its shareholding in SCCC to 47%.

Elsewhere, Holcim has sold its 20% in Cementos Progreso SA to its majority shareholder, Grupo Cemcal SA Progreso, which owns a cement plant in San Miguel with an annual capacity of 3Mt/yr.

For the sale of these two share packages, which is part of the Holcim Leadership Journey, Holcim has received approximately US$410m.

Thailand/Cambodia: Owing to strong demand for cement in the country and the wider Far East region, Siam City Cement (SCCC) has announced plans to re-open one of the two clinker lines that it shut down in 2008, according to local press.

With the re-opening of the clinker factory in October 2013, SCCC's production capacity will rise by at least 1.4Mt/yr, or 10% of its current capacity, according to the company's managing director Philippe Arto.

SCCC shut down the two plants, which had total capacity of 2.25Mt/yr in 2008 because of an increase in production costs and a decline in demand for cement. However, the company has recently seen strong growth in demand. In 2013 it targets year-on-year growth of at least 5%, following an increase in both public and private sector projects.

Meanwhile, the company's board of directors has said that it will consider a plan to invest in Cambodia early in 2013. The company has been working on the plan since 2010. "Our board of directors will make a decision on this plan in 2013. This would be our first investment outside Thailand," said Arto.

If the plan is approved, SCCC will set up a cement plant in Cambodia via a joint venture with a local partner. "We are interested in investing in Cambodia because we have a more-than 40% share in the cement market in the country," said Arto.

SCCC's sales in the first nine months of 2012 climbed by 10.8% to US$653.8m from US$590.5m in the same period of 2011 due to growing demand. However, its net profit dropped by 5.3% to US$94.1m from US$99.3m due to rising energy costs.

Thailand: Siam Cement's third-quarter net profit has fallen by 13% to US$201m from US$240m. The conglomerate blamed higher expenses and the cost of sales.

For the quarter ending on 30 September 2012, sales increased by 11% to US$3.39bn from US$3.01bn. The cost of sales rose by 9.1% to US$2.89bn from US$2.65bn. Total expenses grew by 15% to US$305m from US$266m. Contributions from the cement unit rose by 33% to US$2.45bn.

Despite the profit decline, the conglomerate said that its board had approved plans to spend US$358m on a new cement plant in Indonesia and US$179m on an expansion of its cement business in Cambodia. Siam Cement has aggressively expanded its business in local and overseas markets over the past few years, particularly in members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as it seeks to boost future income and diversify risk across markets.

Thailand: The Thai cement industry is still waiting to see more details of the government's programme for infrastructure projects following the recent devastating floods. It is anxious to determine whether growth will exceed the normal annual rate of 3-5%. The government so far has not laid out clear plans on repairing the flood damage to roads and other infrastructure installations or for how it intends to bolster the Kingdom's disaster-protection system with floodways and/or drainage tunnels.

Kan Trakulhoon, president and chief executive officer of Siam Cement Group, said that demand for the cement in 2012 was now anticipated to grow by 5%. This rate is expected to continue for several years thanks to the demand for repairs to roads, houses and other buildings, as well as improving the flood-protection system and constructing new homes. However, it has to wait for an outline of new infrastructure projects from the government before making a clear forecast of cement demand in 2012 and the medium-term.

Trakulhoon said that sales of building materials had bright growth prospects after the flood water recedes. "Because of the floods, the demand for high-rise condominiums in central Bangkok will be higher. I have always believed that the number of high-rise residences such as condominiums has not reached saturation. I have an optimistic view that demand for cement will keep growing."

Trakulhoon also pointed to the overall improved sales of building materials and cement in October 2011 as evidence for his optimism. In that month, sales of cement in the centre of Thailand dropped by 40% but sales in the north, south and northeast were good, indicating a strong background of cement growth.

Chantana Sukhumanont, executive vice president of Siam City Cement, the country's second-largest cement producer, pointed out that restoration itself does not require particularly large amounts of cement. She said that cement consumption in 2012 would not grow significantly from building restoration, highlighting a greater need for fittings and finishings such as plumbing fixtures and electrical wiring.

Thailand: The Siam Cement Group (SGC) has said that Thailand's economy is expected to recover rapidly from the current flooding thanks to anticipated massive spending on infrastructure development. It believes that this development will boost the country's competitiveness in the coming Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Speaking at the Asean Business and Investment Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Kan Trakulhoon, chief executive and president of SGC, said that as soon as the floodwater recedes, much of the country's logistical infrastructure will be repaired. He said that new infrastructure would also be developed, particularly water-management systems. The proposed infrastructure development is meant to prevent flooding but could also spur growth.

"A decade ago we developed very few infrastructure projects such as electric trains and an airport. Now it is time to turn crisis into opportunity and kick off more projects. The infrastructure will enhance the country's competitiveness in the long run," said Kan. He added that Thailand still had much potential for direct foreign investment because of its skilled workforce, research and development spending and its location within the Asean region.

"Signs of recovery are emerging such as sales of building materials and cement in November 2011 returning to normal, following a 40% contraction in October 2011," he said. Kan said that SCG remained committed to its USD5bn five-year investment plan for 2012-16 in all of its business sectors despite the flooding.

The recent floods have affected more than 2 million people in central Thailand and disrupted supply chains for many business and manufacturing sectors.