Global Cement News

Thailand: Siam Cement Group’s (SCG) cement division’s sales grew by 4% year-on-year to US$1.51bn in the first quarter of 2019. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 10% to US$222m. It attributed the growth in earnings on increased cement prices and cost savings. Overall, the group’s sales and earnings fell due to poor performance from its chemicals division.

Nigeria: Dangote Cement’s earnings have fallen due to elections and price cuts in Nigeria and competition in the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 11.2% year-on-year to US$312m in the first quarter of 2019 from US$351m in the same period in 2018. Sales revenue fell slightly to US$670m, due to declines in Nigeria. Cement sales volumes grew slightly to 3.99Mt in Nigeria and by 4.8% to 2.35Mt in the rest of Africa. Despite this Dangote Cement noted that its sales volumes in Nigeria were its third-highest quarterly volume ever.

“It was a challenging quarter with delays to the Nigerian elections that impacted sales, increased discounting in Nigeria and tougher market conditions in South Africa and other Pan-African markets. In addition, our variable costs were hit by foreign exchange effects, as well as higher fuel and distribution costs,” said Joe Makoju, group chief executive officer (CEO) of Dangote Cement.

Peru: UNACEM’s income rose by 1% year-on-year to US$145m in the first quarter of 2019 from US$143m in the same period in 2018. Its profit grew by 21% to US$57.5m from US$47.4m. Its cement despatches increased by 6.3% to 1.27Mt from 1.20Mt. The cement producer said that although its sale volumes had increased its prices had lowered. Fuel costs also rose.

Mozambique: Cimentos de Mocambique has closed its Matola plant due to low demand. It made the decision following large losses, according to the O Pais newspaper. The subsidiary of Brazil’s Intercement said that the unit cost US$25m. It operates one integrated plant and four grinding plants in the country with a total production capacity of 2.9Mt/yr.

Gabon: Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF) Gabon has assured the government that it can increases national production to over 1Mt/yr from 0.65Mt/yr at present. Carmen Ndaot, the Minister of Industry, and other government representatives visited the CIMAF’s grinding plant as part of an assessment of a memorandum of understanding signed with the subsidiary of Morocco’s CIMAF, according to the L’Union newspaper. The company plans to spend Euro100m towards building a new plant. It is scheduled to be completed by mid-2021.