Mexico: GCC’s results for the first half of 2019 have been negatively affected by poor weather in the US. Its net sales grew slightly by 1.3% to US$404m from US$399 in the same period in 2018. Sales fell in the US but they rose in Mexico. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 5% to US$109m from US$115m.

“While GCC’s US operations continued to be adversely impacted during the second quarter by an above average precipitation, below-average temperatures and construction labour shortages, the substantial backlog at our US operations underscores strong demand for our products. We’ve begun to reap the benefits early in the third quarter, as the US weather has finally cleared,” said Enrique Escalante, GCC’s chief executive officer (CEO). He added that the group had ‘successfully leveraged’ its new Trident plant in Montana and improved production levels at its Rapid City plant in South Dakota following a stabilisation process. Oil well cement shipments from its Chihuahua Plant to new terminal at Fort Stockton in Texas have also started.