Cementos Lima, Peru’s largest cement producer, posted a 96.5m-sol (US$29.6m) net profit in 2004, up 0.75 per cent from the previous year, Cementos reported to the country’s securities regulator Conasev. Net sales grew 2.16 per cent to 566m soles and operating profit fell 0.91 per cent to 145m soles due to increased operating costs. The bottom line was boosted by non-operating gains.
In 2004, Cementos’ clinker production rose 19.6 per cent to 2.3Mt and cement output grew 16.1 per cent to 2.16Mt. In terms of cement production for last year, Cementos was followed by Cemento Andino (903,484t), Cementos Pacasmayo (728,643t), Cemento Yura (498,649t), Cemento Sur (136,594t) and Cemento Selva (103,851t). Cementos Lima’s exports in 2004 increased 66 per cent to 570,827t, while clinker exports fell 43.7 per cent to 137,743t. Of total exports, 96.2 per cent went to the US.