China: Anhui Conch’s revenue grew by 70.5% year-on-year to US$19.1bn in 2018 from US$11.2bn in 2017. Its sales volumes of cement rose by 25% to 368Mt. Its net profit increased by 88% to US$4.44bn from US$2.36bn. The cement producer attributed this to ‘significant’ growth in its prices.

During the reporting year the group commissioned four cement grinding units for its Yueqing Conch Cement and Jiande Conch subsidiaries. It also acquired Guangdong Qingyuan Cement, increasing its production capacity of clinker and cement by 2.7Mt and 4Mt respectively.

Outside of China, the group completed and commissioned two clinker production lines and four cement grinding units at Battambang Conch Cement in Cambodia and PT Conch North Sulawesi Cement in Indonesia. Its Luangprabang Conch Cement project in Laos has moved to the equipment installation phase and construction of Myanmar Conch Cement (Mandalay) in Myanmar has begun. Preliminary work has also started for the Vientiane Conch Cement project in Laos and the Qarshi Conch Cement project in Uzbekistan.

At the end of 2018 the group has a clinker and cement production capacities of 252Mt/yr and 353Mt/yr respectively.

Mexico: Cemex says it has made ‘significant’ progress towards its US$1.5 – 2bn asset disposal target by the end of 2020. Since the target was announced in mid-2018 the group has announced the divestment of assets in northern Europe, a terminal in Manaus in Brazil, aggregates and ready-mix concrete (RMX) assets in Germany, its white cement business including the Buñol cement plant in Spain and other assets. These sales will generate around US$750m or half of its lower target.

“We remain completely committed towards the goal of achieving an investment grade capital structure and will continue our disciplined deleveraging and improvement of our capital structure,” said Fernando A Gonzalez, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cemex.

China: China Shanshui Cement’s revenue grew by 19% year-on-year to US$2.63bn in 2018 from US$2.2bn in 2017. Its profit from operations nearly doubled to US$563m from US$295m. It reported growth in most of its operating regions, with the exception of Xinjiang Region, where revenue fell slightly to US$71.1m. It attributed its overall sales revenue growth to raised prices.

Chile: Cementos Bío Bío has changed its name to Cbb as as part of a rebranding exercise to target the group for the digital age and to target growth outside of Chile. Chief executive officer (CEO) Enrique Elsaca said that the change is part of the company’s Transforma 2021 plan, including investment of US$150m in Chile, Argentina and Peru, according to the El Mercurio newspaper.

It is about to inaugurate a cement grinding plant at Arica in Chile, it plans to build a US$20m plant at Arequipa in Peru for commissionoing in early 2020 and it plans to upgrade its San Juan lime plant in Argentina. It also hopes to build a new lime plant in northern Argentina to supply the lithium business.