Displaying items by tag: Results
UltraTech Cement shares first quarter 2021 results
29 July 2020India: Aditya Birla subsidiary UltraTech Cement has recorded a net profit of US$122m in the three months to 30 June 2020, the first quarter of the 2021 fiscal year – down by 28% year-on-year from US$169m in the corresponding period of the 2020 fiscal year. Sales were US$975m, down by 33% from US$1.45bn.
The company said, “UltraTech has emerged stronger and well-prepared in the wake of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. The total lockdown period from late-March 2020 to 1 May 2020 has been a huge challenge for all manufacturing industries. UltraTech has managed the crisis with a sharp focus on operational efficiencies. In the available 68 operating days during the quarter, the company kept a tight control on costs and cash flow and achieved an effective capacity utilisation of 60% across its network of 54 plants around the country.”
UltraTech said that it had already noted “better-than-expected pick-up in cement consumption in rural markets,” which it attributed to “measured steps towards economic recovery” by national and state governments.
Italy: Caltagirone Group subsidiary Cementir has recorded first-half revenues of Euro570m in the first half of 2020, down by 3.6% year-on-year from Euro591.9m in the first half of 2019. Net profit was Euro21.9m, down by 27% from Euro29.9m. The company sold 4.6Mt of cement, up by 6.3% from 4.3Mt, which it said was “mainly attributable to good performance in Turkey.”
Operating costs fell by 3.9% to Euro475m from Euro494m, which the company attributed to “cost containment measures implemented to deal with the impact of the pandemic.” The company said that, in spite of the contraction during lockdown periods in various markets, it was generally able to offset this with “a significant recovery in sales,” as in China, where increased infrastructure investments raised demand above pre-coronavirus outbreak levels following the return to cement production on 27 March 2020. The company reduced its debt by 30% to Euro281m from Euro399.
Cementir said, “With the current industrial perimeter, we expect to reach full-year consolidated revenues of approximately Euro1.2bn in 2020. Net financial debt is expected to be around Euro180m, including capital expenditure of around Euro60m. No substantial changes in the workforce are expected.”
Thailand: Siam Cement Group’s (SCG) sales revenue from its cement business fell by 6% year-on-year to US$2.82bn in the first half of 2020. However, its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 5% to US$405m. The cement division of the group said that sales were hit by coronavirus-related lockdown measures. However, earnings benefitted from efficiency improvements and lower energy prices. Overall both sales revenue and earnings fell for the group across all business division in the reporting period.
US sales drive GCC performance so far in 2020
29 July 2020Mexico: Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua’s (GCC) net sales rose by 5% year-on-year to US$424m in the first half of 2020 from US$404m in the same period in 2019. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 16.4% to US$127m from US$109m. Its US cement and ready-mix concrete (RMC) sales volumes increased by 3.6% and 17.2% respectively. However, Mexican cement and RMC sales volumes fell by 7.2% and 23.7% respectively. Although most of GCC’s sales came from the US, it said that Mexican sales were affected by negative currency affects and the local coronavirus-related lockdown.
"Increased concrete and cement volumes in the US demonstrate the construction industry's tailwinds and resiliency on the back of improved weather conditions. EBITDA growth, free cash flow generation and margin expansion reflected the successful execution of a comprehensive plan to reduce costs and expenses,” said Enrique Escalante, GCC's chief executive officer (CEO). He added that since the company was seeing market conditions ‘deteriorate’ and high levels of uncertainty that the company expected ‘additional challenges in the quarters ahead.’ As such it hoped for, ‘further economic stimuli from the governments, including a sizable infrastructure bill.’
Mexico: Cemex recorded a net income of US$5.61m in the first half of 2020, down by 97% year-on-year from US$218m in the first half of 2019. Net sales fell by 8% to US$6.00bn from US$6.49bn and consolidated cement volumes fell by 5% to 29.2Mt from 30.7Mt. The company increased its US sales by 7% to 1.97Mt from 1.85Mt and cement volumes by 6%, while prices increased by 1%.
Chief executive officer (CEO) Fernando González said, “Despite the unprecedented conditions in which we are operating due to the pandemic, I am pleased with our second quarter performance and our quick reaction to implement cost containment measures across all geographies. In the second quarter of 2020 we saw a rapid V-shaped volume recovery in our core products from trough levels in April, reaching slightly below pre-Covid-19 outbreak volumes in June. Importantly, our health initiatives have helped protect our employees, customers, suppliers and communities, and allowed us and our customers to continue operating in most markets.
The India Cements shares first quarter results
28 July 2020India: The India Cements recorded a profit of US$2.27m in the three months to 30 June 2020, down by 77% year-on-year from US$9.66m in the corresponding quarter of 2019. Its sales fell by 48% to US$102m from US$197m, due to the effects of the coronavirus lockdown during the quarter. It noted that direct cement sales to consumers (non-trade sales) rose to 67% from 52%, and said that it would extend its successful “cash and carry” business model developed for non-trade sales during the partial coronavirus lockdown to all cement sales. The India Cements predicts a rise in cement demand in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana of 75% to 3.5Mt in the second half of 2020 from 2.0Mt in the first half.
Cementos Pacasmayo reports first half loss of US$13m
28 July 2020Peru: Cementos Pacasmayo recorded a loss of US$13.0m in the six months to the 30 June 2020, compared to a US$9.16m profit in the first half of 2019. The company experienced a 64% drop in sales to US$32.5m from US$91.6m. It said the decline resulted from decreased demand due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Nigeria: Dangote Cement recorded a net profit of US$422m in the first half of 2020, up by 5.8% year-on-year from US$308m in the first half of 2019. Net sales were US$1.23bn, up by 2% from US$1.21bn. Nigerian sales made up 70% of the total at US$861m, up by 1.2% from US$850m.
The company said, “Most Covid-19 lockdown measures started at the end of March 2020 and peaked in April 2020. The response by the authorities varied in nature from specific temporary restrictions in some countries to a complete temporary lockdown for non-essential businesses. Our operations in South Africa, Congo and Ghana were shut down due to full or partial lockdown in most of April 2020. By early May 2020, lockdown had eased, and all our businesses were operational.”
Regarding its Nigerian operations, it said, “Lagos, Abuja and Ogun states locked down from 31 March 2020 to 4 May 2020. As a result, April 2020 volumes were heavily impacted and 28% lower than in April 2019. Other states joined with complete or partial lockdown during the month.” It estimated that a recession would strike the economy before 31 December 2020, compounded by the Covid-19 outbreak and a first-half global oil price slump.
India: Ambuja Cement’s net profit in the first half of 2020 was US$22.1m, up by 1.5% year-on-year from US$21.7m in the first half of 2019. Revenues decreased by 15% to US$127m from US$149m. The company sold 9.95Mt of cement over the period, down by 18% from 12.2Mt.
Managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Neeraj Akhoury said, “Volumes were impacted during the second quarter of 2020 as a result of Covid-19 lockdown. Cement demand is expected to rebound, presupposing a normal monsoon and various policy support measures to enhance rural and agricultural incomes. Continued infrastructure, development and affordable housing investment are expected to boost demand growth in the mid-term. The health of our employees and partners is accorded the highest priority.”
Dongwu Cement issues profit warning
27 July 2020China: Dongwu Cement has predicted a net profit of US$1.71m in the first half of 2020, down by 62% year-on-year from US$4.56m in the first half of 2019. Company chairman Liu Dong said the expected decrease was “primarily attributable to a decline in sales volume and sales price of the group’s products resulting from the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic during the period.”