Global Cement News

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.

Australia: Barro Group, the family-owned supplier of premixed concrete, quarry machinery and associated products, has attracted the scrutiny of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over its 43% stake in Adelaide Brighton due to the possible overlap in the two companies’ roles as suppliers of cement, concrete and aggregates. The Advertiser reported that Adelaide Brighton chairman Raymond Barro defended the pairing, saying the companies had ‘complementary footprints’ with ‘limited crossover of products and locations in which for Adelaide Brighton and Barrow Group to compete.’

China: Xinjiang Tianshan Cement has recorded a net profit of US$72.2m in the three months to 30 September 2019, representing an increase of 12% from US$64.5m in the corresponding quarter of 2018. Revenue leapt up to US$464m from US$376m.

Shangfeng Cement also improved its profits in the quarter by 70% year-on-year to US$839m from US$494m in the three months to 2018.