Cement sector facing stern challenges
Pakistan’s cement sector is currently facing stern challenges emanating from a wide spectrum of socio-economic risks including contracting economic activities, slowdown in GDP growth and construction activities, and high input costs. These negative developments, along with the prevailing credit crunch and rising interest rates, have further constrained the industry’s prospects.
Cement industry has a positive correlation with the GDP growth rate. The major domestic demand drivers for the sector are Public Sector Development Programs (infrastructure), real estate and industrial construction.
The conducive economic environment not only fueled the local demand but also provided impetus for capacity expansion recently, while several new production lines are scheduled to commence operations in the near future. During this period, the cement manufacturers also established export operations by catering to the growing demand of regional economies. This, while stabilising the local cement prices, had a positive impact on capacity utilisation and margins.
Although the local demand dwindled significantly in IQFY09 (around 15 per cent decline), strong growth in exports has provided support to the industry in the form of largely sustained capacity utilisation and price stability.
However, given the global economic recession, export demand is expected to come down. This would negatively impact the margins and put pressure on local prices that could lead to a price war among producers. The looming supply overhang scenario in the sector could potentially worsen the situation. Furthermore, regional markets mainly India and China could also emerge as competitors in the export market, following a slowdown in their domestic economics and enhanced production capacity.
Profitability of the sector has come under pressure due to high-energy cost (comprising around five per cent of total raw material costs) and increasing financial expenses. Although international energy prices have declined recently, any beneficial impact on margins has largely been negated by substantial depreciation in Pak rupee. Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA), therefore, believes that the performance of the cement companies could weaken further impacting their financial profile. Keeping these developments in view, the outlook on the sector is negative. The negative outlook implies the PACRA perceives downward pressure on the ratings within the industry, especially for highly leveraged entities.
PACRA, as a part of its ongoing surveillance, is monitoring all developments very closely, and may take a client specific rating action wherever it is deemed appropriate.
We would like to emphasize that for any concern about the financial strength of a rated entity in the country, it is appropriate to consult the respective rating agency before drawing any final conclusion. This does not necessarily exclude any independent analysis or objective reservations about the rating opinion. Nevertheless, discussion with the respective rating agency could only help in developing a more informed view about the company.
Published under Cement News
