14 February 2018

Colombia: Cementos Argos has reported a net loss of US$23.4m in the fourth quarter of 2017 due to lower prices and higher costs, primarily due to economic deceleration in Colombia. The net loss was a contrast to the US$21.6m profit made in the same period of 2016. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 8.9% to US$126.7m during the quarter.

"The fall in income and EBITDA of Cementos Argos is best explained by the price of cement in Colombia, which reached its lowest level in the second quarter of the year," said the company in a statement. Imports from countries that subsidise industrial energy costs and exchange rate changes led to the fall in prices.

For the whole of 2017 Cementos Argos’ net profit slumped by 86.3% to US$27.0m, compared to US$196.9m during 2016. EBITDA for the full year 2017 was down by 15% to US$497.0m.