Mexico: Cemex has reduced its year-on-year net loss in the third quarter of 2012 due to steady sales and an increase in operating cash flow. However, the Mexican cement conglomerate has confirmed that over 1000 jobs will leave the company by December 2013.

The Mexican conglomerate reported a net loss for the quarter of US$203m, compared with a loss of US$730m in the third quarter of 2011. It noted a 13% increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to US$730m from US$671m in the same quarter in 2011. Sales fell by 2% in dollar terms to US$3.9bn as a result of weaker currencies but rose by 2% from 2011 when adjusted for currency fluctuations. Consolidated cement sales volumes fell by 2% to 17.1Mt. Operating profit rose by 35% to US$410m.

"An improvement in pricing and volume in several of our regions as well as the continued success of our transformation effort has led to the highest operating EBITDA margin in three years," said Fernando Gonzalez, executive vice president of finance and administration.

Cemex generated EBITDA of US$27m in the US, a second consecutive quarter of positive cash flow in that market as sales rose by 12% from 2011 to US$826m. In Mexico, sales were 2% higher at US$875m, and EBITDA rose by 9% to US$313m. Sales rose in Central and South America and in Asia, although they were lower in both northern and southern Europe.

Gonzalez also said that IBM will be hiring around 450 Cemex workers, or 1% of its global staff, in a previously announced outsourcing deal. Another 675 people, or 1.5% of its workforce, will be made redundant. The staff downsizing is expected to be completed by December of 2013.