South Africa: PPC has delayed the publication of its annual results for the year to 31 March 2020 for a second time due to a “restructuring and refinance project.” It now expects to publish the results by late September 2020. It previously delayed reporting its financial results when the Johannesburg Stock Exchange allowed it to delay releasing the figures because of challenges created by the coronavrius pandemic. The cement producer also said it has found errors in its financial reporting for the year that ended in March 2019 due to mistakes made in valuing operations in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe and a miscalculation of the accounting of a foreign-exchange transaction in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The group expects that revenue for the year to 31 March 2020 will decline by no more than 5% year-on-year from US$605m in the same period in 2019. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) are expected to fall by up to 20% from US$113m.

In an operational update for April to July 2020 the group said that it ramped up cement operations in May 2020 following the relaxation of coronavirus-related lockdowns in most of its territories. It attributed strong growth in cement sales volumes in June and July 2020 due to a reduction in imports as well as pent-up demand. Similarly, sales volumes were strong outside of South Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe and Rwanda, and in the DRC to a lesser extent.