China: Anhui Conch Cement, the biggest cement producer in Asia by output, has announced that its net profit fell by 45.6% to US$1.03bn in 2012 from US$1.87bn in 2011. The drop was attributed to a decline in the price of cement and a general slowdown in the growth of cement market demand in 2012.

Operating revenue for the company dropped by 6.41% year-on-year to US$7.25bn in 2012 from US$7.83bn in 2011. By market region, Anhui Conch's East China region saw sales fall by 15% in 2012 to US$2.58bn. Its Central China region fell by 19% to US$1.97bn. Its South China region fell by 2% to US$1.39bn, its West China region rose by 59% to US$1.08bn and exports rose by 40% to US$223m.

In 2012 the company sold 187Mt of clinker and cement in 2012, a year-on-year growth of 18.3%. The cement producer added 20.8Mt of clinker production capacity and 28.3Mt of cement production capacity in 2012. At the end of 2012, the group's clinker production capacity and cement production capacity amounted to 184Mt and 209Mt respectively, with a total residual heat electricity generating capacity of 881MW. During 2012 the group also began its first overseas investment project with the start of construction of PT Conch South Kalimantan Cement in Indonesia, with a clinker production line of 3200t/day.

For 2013 Anhui Conch expects 'excessive' production capacity and structural adjustment in the cement industry to continue. However demand will remain stable and government pressure to increase environmental regulations and encourage industry consolidation should benefit the group. The group expects to increase its clinker and cement production capacity by 15.4Mt and 22.5Mt respectively in 2013. For its three major risks for 2013 the group included a volatile construction industry, fuel costs and the risks of further government environmental regulation.