
Displaying items by tag: Results
UNACEM profit rises steeply in second quarter
23 August 2022Peru: UNACEM reported a consolidated net profit of US$285m in the second quarter of 2022, a 25.8% year-on-year rise compared to the second quarter of 2022. The increase was explained by higher revenues, coupled to a drop in interest expenses. However, the quarter was characterised by a higher-than-expected cost of sales.
UNACEM's consolidated revenues for the quarter reached US$367.4m, up 19.8% year-on-year. This was due to higher cement sales volumes in Peru (+13.8%) and the US (+15.7%) and higher ready-mix concrete sales in the US (+34.0%) and Chile (+54.0%), as well as higher energy sales in Peru. This was complemented by higher sales prices in all markets.
Qatar: Qatar National Cement Company recorded revenues of US$106m in the first half of 2022, down by 5.7% year-on-year from US$113m in the first half of 2021. Despite this, the producer's net profit underwent an 18% year-on-year increase to US$30.5m from US$25.9m.
Saudi Arabia: Qassim Cement's sales fell by 30% year-on-year to US$78.4m in the first half of 2022 from US$112m in the first half of 2021. High costs compounded the decline to result in a net profit drop of 73% to US$14.4m from US$53.5m. The fall in profit was less sharp in the second quarter of 2022 than in the first: it fell by 75% year-on-year to US$6.68m in the first quarter of the year and by 71% year-on-year to US$7.71m in the second quarter of the year.
India: Shaurashtra Cement's results for the first quarter of its 2023 financial year have shown a 30% year-on-year increase in the company's revenues to US$26.9m from US$20.6m in the first quarter of the previous financial year. Meanwhile, it recorded a US$128,000 net loss, compared to a US$1.61m profit in the first quarter of the 2022 financial year.
Taiwan Cement's sales grow in first half of 2022
19 August 2022Taiwan: Taiwan Cement recorded sales of US$1.67bn in the first half of 2022, up by 2.5% year-on-year from US$1.62bn in the first half of 2021. The group's cement segment increased its sales revenues during the half by 8.2% to US$1.42bn from US$1.31bn. Cement thus contributed 86% of revenues during the period. Net income attributable to the company's shareholders during the half totaled US$251m, down by 5.1% US$264m.
China: China National Building Material subsidiary Gansu Qilianshan Cement recorded an operating income of US$581m in the first half of 2022, up by 20% year-on-year from US$485m. Despite this, the producer's net profit during the half declined by 16% to US$73.7m.
India: JK Cement’s consolidated sales were US$272m in the first quarter of its 2023 financial year, up by 33% year-on-year from US$205m. The company sold 3.56Mt of cement, up by 18% from 3.02Mt in the first quarter of the 2022 financial year. Its costs per tonne rose to US$62.32/t from US$51.32/t. This restricted the group’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) growth to 0.1% year-on-year, at US$50.3m, compared to US$50.2m one year previously.
JK Cement forecast 10% year-on-year cement volumes growth in the 2023 financial year as a whole. It said that it expects to accelerate its rate of sales growth from September 2022. Its focus throughout the financial year will be on capturing new markets and increasing its blended cement share.
New Zealand: Fletcher Building Materials recorded consolidated sales of US$5.37bn during its 2022 financial year, up by 4.7% year-on-year from US$5.13bn in the previous year. Its net earnings also rose by 42%, to US$273m from US$193m.
The group's concrete division, which includes Golden Bay Cement, contributed US$556m-worth (9%) of group sales. The figure represents an 8% increase from 2021 financial year levels. The business recorded 'strong performances' across all key product segments, underpinned by 'robust' demand and pricing. It made capital expenditure investments of US$51.1m, including in a waste tyre recycling system upgrade at the Golden Bay cement plant. The latter increased the plant's alternative fuel (AF) substitution to 50% from 35%. The company also continued to focus on developing low-CO2 concrete binders.
Fletcher Building Materials chief executive officer Ross Taylor said "The 2022 financial year has not been without its challenges. Global and national supply chain disruptions have continued into the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic." He added "The New Zealand Commerce Commission recently published its interim market study report into residential building supplies. The final report and recommendations will be published in December 2022 and in the meantime we will continue to work collaboratively with both the commission and the government."
China: West China Cement’s preliminary results indicate a profit drop of 40 – 45% year-on-year in the first half of 2022 to US$85.6 – 93.4m from US$156m. The group said that its finance costs rose by US$10.8m, while its foreign exchange gains were just US$4.05m in the half, compared to US$51.2m in the first half of 2021.
Australia: James Hardie recorded sales of US$1bn in the first quarter of its 2023 financial year, up by 19% year-on-year from US$843m in the first quarter of its 2022 financial year. Its net profit was US$163m, up by 34% from US$121m. The group increased its North America fibre cement board sales by 28% to US$740m, its Asia Pacific fibre cement board sales by 9% to US$140m and its Europe building products sales by 7% to US$112. James Hardie launched its new European subsidiary James Hardie Fiber Cement Europe during the quarter.
James Hardie lowered its full-year adjusted net profit forecast to US$730 – 780m from US$740 – 820m. Interim chief executive officer Harold Wiens said "The current calendar year has seen the macro-economic environment change around us quite significantly, with unprecedented levels of inflation, global supply chain disruptions and a war in Europe. The current macro-economic environment is not only creating uncertainty for the housing markets in all three regions we do business in, but it is also putting pressure on our fiscal year 2023 financial results due to increased input and freight costs. That said, we are confident we will be able to deliver growth above market and strong returns in fiscal year 2023, and that is reflected in our updated guidance we provided today, which at its midpoint represents 22% growth in adjusted net income versus the prior year."