Global Cement News

China: China Resources Cement (CRC), China’s seventh-largest producer of cement, has reported a net profit for the nine months to 30 September 2019 of US$739m, down by 4.9% year-on-year from US$775m in the corresponding period of 2018. Its third quarter profit in 2019 was US$259m, down by 1.9% year-on-year from US$264m. CRC attributed the fall to lower turnover and the weak performance of the Yuan compared to the Hong Kong Dollar.

China: Huaxin Cement has reported a net profit of US$680m for the period of nine months to 30 September 2019. This represents a 42% year-on-year increase from US$478m in the corresponding period of 2018. Its operating income over the period grew by 18% year-on-year to US$3.18bn from US$2.69bn. Huaxin Cement made several investments in emerging markets over the period, with its Uzbek plant in Zarafabad set to become operation in December 2019.

Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) recorded a net profit after tax of US$200m in the three months to the 30 September 2019, down by 48% year-on-year from US$388m. It revenue over the period stood at US$3.65bn, down by 9.9% from US$4.06bn in the corresponding period of 2018. SCS’s cement-building materials section fell less dramatically, with nine-month profit attributable to owners down by 6.3% year-on-year to US$0.16m from US$0.15m, and a decrease in sales of 1.7% to US$4.54m from US$4.62m in the corresponding period of 2018.

SCG, Thailand’s largest industrial conglomerate, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) for its packaging subsidiary SCG Packaging. Reuters has reported that proceeds deriving from the listing would ‘be used for domestic and international business expansion.’ The company will remain the major shareholder at 70%.

China: Asia Cement (China) Holdings has reported a net profit of US$320m in the nine months to 30 September 2019, up by 40.2% year-on-year from US$228m. The company attributed this to steady earnings growth.

Philippines: Cemex Holdings Philippines has recorded a profit of US$17.1m in the nine months to 30 September 2019, compared to US$13.0m losses in the corresponding period of 2018. The company attributed the turn-around to steadily growing sales, up by 1.7% year-on-year to US$0.36bn from US$0.35bn, foreign exchange gains and lower income tax expenses, in spite of falling domestic volumes. The Manila Times has reported that a drop in construction activity and delays to projects failed to prevent a 5% rise in domestic cement prices throughout the period.