UAE: Union Cement Q2 down on input, fuel costs

UAE: Union Cement Q2 down on input, fuel costs
29 July 2008


Union Cement Co posted a 60.2 per cent drop in net profit in the second quarter on high raw material and fuel costs, as well as a sharp decline in income from investments in shares.
 
Net profit in the three months ended June 30 fell to AED38.22m (US$10.41m) from AED96.06m in the same period last year, below two analysts’ forecasts in a survey last month. .
 
Earnings per share for the second quarter fell to AED0.06 from AED0.15, the UAE’s third-largest producer by market value said in a statement on the Abu Dhabi bourse website.
 
Income from investments in shares plunged 95.1 per cent to AED2.01m, the Ras al-Khaimah-based firm said.
 
"The decrease in net profit is due to the high cost of raw materials, heavy fuel oil and the increase in cost of power generation due to the shortage of supply ... and the shortage of gas supply," the statement said.
 
Last month, the cement firm said it was considering using coal to fire one of its kilns instead of natural gas or heavy fuel.
Published under Cement News