Cost containment efforts help CEMEX achieve higher margins

CEMEX’s Consolidated Second Quarter 2020 Financial and Operational Highlights

The decline in quarterly consolidated Net Sales was due to lower volumes for CEMEX’s three core products in almost all regions. The US was the one exception with cement volumes growing 6%. Impact of volumes was highly correlated to government COVID-19 restrictions.

Operating Earnings before Other Expenses, net, decreased 17% to US$279 million on a like-to-like basis.

Controlling Interest Net Income (loss) was a loss of US$44 million, compared with a Net Income of US$155 million in the same quarter of 2019. Operating EBITDA on a like-to-like basis decreased 6% during the quarter to US$554 million, as compared to the same period in 2019. Operating EBITDA margin increased by 0.7 pp, from 18.3% in the second quarter of 2019 to 19.0% this quarter. Free Cash Flow after Maintenance Capital Expenditures for the quarter was US$140 million.

Net debt plus perpetual notes marginally increased sequentially by US$51 million during the quarter.

“Despite the unprecedented conditions in which we are operating due to the pandemic, I am pleased with our second quarter performance and our quick reaction to implement cost containment measures across all geographies. In the quarter, we saw a rapid V-shaped volume recovery in our core products from trough levels in April, reaching slightly below pre COVID-19 volumes in June. Importantly, our health initiatives have helped protect our employees, customers, suppliers and communities, and allowed us and our customers to continue operating in most markets. Our digitalisation efforts have also paid off as usage continues to expand on our digital platforms and our sales force has leveraged new tools to connect with our customers virtually. We expect that COVID-19 will continue to challenge our operations in new ways over the next few quarters. We will continue to prioritise the safety of our employees and customers, improve our customer experience, and protect the future of our company,” said Fernando A. González, CEO of CEMEX.

Geographical Markets Second-Quarter 2020 Highlights

Net Sales in Mexico decreased 10% on a like-to-like basis to US$568 million. Operating EBITDA, on a like-to-like basis, decreased 10% to US$183 million in the quarter, versus the same period of the previous year.

CEMEX’s operations in the United States reported Net Sales of US$1.0 billion, an increase of 1% from the same period in 2019. Operating EBITDA increased by 16% to US$198 million versus the same quarter of 2019.

In the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia region, Net Sales decreased by 13% on a like-to-like basis, compared with the same period of the previous year, reaching US$987 million. Operating EBITDA was US$147 million for the quarter, 20% lower than the same period last year on a like-to-like basis.

CEMEX’s operations in the South, Central America and the Caribbean region, reported Net Sales of US$279 million, a decline of 30% on a like-to-like basis over the same period of 2019. Operating EBITDA decreased by 25% on a like-to-like basis to US$66 million in the second quarter of 2020, in contrast to the same quarter of 2019.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/28072020/cost-containment-efforts-help-cemex-achieve-higher-margins/