Spain: Cementos Molins has reported its third consecutive quarter with a rising profit, having made Euro33m in the first quarter of 2021, some 39% higher year-on-year than in the same period of 2020. Its revenues came to Euro223m, an increase of 16%.

The quarterly performance of revenues was similar to that of the fourth quarter of 2020, with strong activity in all markets except for Spain. Cementos Molins’ earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the first quarter came to Euro62m, 30% higher than the same period in 2020. It said that this was achieved due to the positive contributions of the higher cement sales volumes, rising sales prices and the results of efficiency plans that off-set increases in energy costs.

Kenya: Athi River Mining (ARM) Cement is preparing for liquidation and delisting from the Nairobi exchange following the failure of its administrators to revive operations. The East African newspaper has reported that PricewaterhouseCoopers advised liquidation in a letter of 19 April 2021. The joint administrators reached their conclusion based on the understanding the producer will not otherwise be able to settle in full with its creditors. The company plans to liquidate on 30 September 2021.

ARM Cement went into administration in August 2018 following a default on a loan. Its operations in Kenya were sold to National Cement in October 2019. China-based Huaxin Cement acquired its Tanzanian subsidiary Maweni Limestone in May 2020. In 2019 ARM Cement’s administrators fought an attempt by minority shareholders to buy out its majority stake in South Africa-based Mafeking Cement. In January 2021 the administrators received approval from the Rwanda Development Board’s Registrar-General to commence the liquidation of Kigali Cement.

Russia: Cemix, a subsidiary of the Austrian firm Lasselsberger, is preparing to open its new white cement plant to open in Abzelilovsky District of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Volga. The first batch of cement will be manufactured in May 2021, with the plant expected to be fully commissioned in August 2021. The design capacity is 700t/day of cement, with plans to increase to 1000t/day in the future, depending on demand.

Thailand: Siam Cement Group’s first-quarter consolidated net revenue was US$3.91bn, up by 15% year-on-year from US$3.39bn. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 68% year-on-year to US$758m from US$452m. Net profit more than doubled to US$478m from US$223m. It attributed the profit growth to its cement and chemical businesses.

The group’s cement and building materials segment recorded an EBITDA of US$211m, down by 2% from US$216m. Its revenue remained stable. Demand for cement in Thailand grew by 3% in the quarter.