Displaying items by tag: Suez Cement

Egypt: Austria-based Mondi Group subsidiary Mondi Paper Bags has announced its acquisition of two cement bag plants, the Helwan Cement bag plant and InterCement bag plant, with a combined capacity of 60m – 80m bags/yr. As a result, Mondi Paper Bags will now meet the bagging needs of both cement producers.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Claudio Fedalto said, “These collaborations will offer Helwan and InterCement access to our latest innovations, industry expertise and our strong plant network and customer service in the Middle East. Thanks to Mondi’s vertical integration, our partners will further benefit from our high quality kraft paper.”

Helwan Cement owner Suez Cement managing director Jose Maria Magrina said, “We are delighted to continue our relationship with a reputable and reliable global paper bags supplier like Mondi, while we can focus on our core operations, the production of grey cement and ready-mix.” InterCement subsidiary Amreyah Cement legal and administration director Paulo Dall’Aqua added, “Building sustainable partnerships is InterCement’s tagline, and it is exactly what this deal represents.”

Egypt: Suez Cement has recorded a loss of US$18.0m in the first three months of 2020, compared to a profit of US$11.0m in the first three months of 2019. Sales fell by 27% year-on-year to US$80.6m from US$110m in 2019. Domestic demand in relation to Egypt’s production overcapacity fell in March 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Daily News Egypt has reported that the second quarter 2020 results will carry greater losses for Suez Cement due to coronavirus lockdown measures and seasonal factors such as Ramadan, with cement volumes down by 27% year-on-year in May 2020.

Egypt: Suez Cement, a HeidelbergCement subsidiary has implemented of a 20% reduction in pay for members of the management committee and a 30% reduction in pay for the managing director in the second quarter of 2020. The cuts are intended as a ‘cost-saving measure’ in line with the company’s aim to reduce expenses. Suez Cement said, “During the last few years the Egyptian cement industry has been going through very challenging times caused by oversupply and a sustained decrease in the demand, and Suez Cement Group has posted negative results. The COVID-19 crisis has complicated market conditions, affecting demand and increasing our costs. Moreover, it has affected our main shareholder, HeidelbergCement. In many countries it has suffered complete shutdowns and it is currently enduring complications in most of the countries that is present.”

Suez Cement continues to employ all staff.

Egypt: Suez Cement has appointed Yasser Elnaggar as its chairman. He succeeds Hayrullah Hakan Gurdal in the role.

Elnaggar is the chief executive officer (CEO) of EN Investment, a management advisory and investment house. Previously he worked as CEO of the Chemical Industries Holding Company (CIHC), a conglomerate made up of 23 Egyptian companies. Alongside this he holds over 25 years experience as a diplomat for the Egyptian government with a notable posting in from 2010 to 2014 as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Washington, DC. Domestic government roles he has held include working as the Principal Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform. In this position he helped oversee the implementation of Egypt's 2030 Vision strategy. He also held the post of Principal Deputy Minister of Investment until April 2016.

Egypt: Germany-based HeidelbergCement subsidiary Suez Cement’s losses fell by 11% year-on-year to US$75.0m in 2019 from US$84.1m in 2018. Mubasher News has reported that sales also fell, by 13% to US$41m from US$0.47bn.

Suez Cement is seeking buyers for its 51% stake in Kuwait-based Hilal Cement.

Egypt: Suez Cement made a loss during the first half of 2019. Its net loss reached US$17.7m over the six month period, from a profit of US$14.4m in the first six months of 2018. The company generated US$199m in revenue during the first six months of 2019, compared to US$238m a year earlier.

Egypt: Suez Cement’s consolidated profit rose by 82% year-on-year to US$12.8m in the first quarter of 2019 from US$7.04m in the same period in 2018. However, its revenue fell by 14% to US$109m from US$127m. Its standalone business reported both a loss and falling sales.

Egypt: Suez Cement has launched its ‘Primo’ customer loyalty scheme. It is intended to strengthen communication with its clients and build the cement producer market position. Existing customers will be offered benefits, including a loyalty points system that can be redeemed from shopping coupons.

Egypt: Suez Cement’s Kattameya plant has been damaged by the collapse of a soil barrier around a nearby wastewater treatment lake. The incident caused a flood of 1.5Mm³ of treated water that reached the edge of the cement plant. The plant’s quarry, some power cables and lighting and a road was damaged. No members of staff at the plant were hurt.

The subsidiary of HeidelbergCement estimates that the flood caused around Euro0.5m worth of damage. It says that it previously raised the issue of the wastewater treatment lake with its owner in 2010 following a risk assessment. This led to the construction of the soil barriers.

Egypt: Suez Cement’s sales rose by 15% year-on-year for Euro375m in 2018 from US$326m in 2017. It reported a profit of Euro6.14m in 2018 compared to a loss of Euro57.2m in 2017, according to Mubasher.