Global Cement News

South Africa: Johan Claassen, the chief executive officer (CEO) of PPC, says he wants to take early retirement. He made the decision during a restructuring of the company’s board. It will now search for a replacement while Claassen stays in post until his successor is found.

Switzerland: LafargeHolcim is expecting its sales growth to slow in 2019 but earnings to grow as its ‘Strategy 2022’ management plan takes shape. Net sales are forecast to grow by up to 6% year-on-year in 2018 yet by only 5% in 2019. However, recurring earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) are predicted to rise by up to 5% in 2018 and then by at least 5% in 2019.

“With the recent divestment of our Indonesian operations we reached a major milestone in focusing our portfolio which allowed us to accelerate deleveraging. At the same time we aggressively move forward in Aggregates and Ready-Mix Concrete. These results are strong proof points for our Strategy 2022 and we will continue delivering across all value drivers," said chief executive officer (CEO) Jan Jenisch.

The group has made the forecasts as part of its Capital Markets Day taking place at Bardon Hill near Birmingham, UK.

Malaysia: Cahya Mata Sarawak’s (CMS) cement division profits have fallen so far in 2018 due to planned maintenance shutdown at its integrated plant and rising clinker prices. Its profit before tax dropped by 14% to US$16.7m in the first nine months of 2018 from US$19.6m in the same period in 2017. The division’s performance was also hit by an increase in the price of imported clinker. The company said that this occurred due to a spike in global demand, following the reduction of clinker production in China and continued high demand for clinker especially from Bangladesh and the Philippines. Overall, CMS’ sales revenue and profit have risen so far in 2018.

UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has joined the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) as an affiliate member. Its application was confirmed at the GCCA’s inaugural annual general meeting and symposium in London, which took place in late November 2018.

“Our affiliation to GCCA builds on our valued membership of 12 European Regional Trade Associations covering aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar, silica sands. The strengthening of the link between the MPA’s national role, the regional associations and now the global level is a positive and logical next step in aligning the advocacy and influence of the industry in a fast changing and complex world,” said MPA chief executive officer (CEO) Nigel Jackson.

Philippines: Solid Cement is using a US$75m loan from Cemex Asia to partly pay for a new production line at its plant in Antipolo, Rizal. The subsidiary of Cemex Holdings Philippines has made an initial withdrawal of around US$41m, according to the Manila Standard newspaper. The upgrade has a total cost of US$235m and it is scheduled completion in 2020. The new line will be supplied and built by China’s CBMI Construction.