Cement News tagged under: South Africa
PPC achieves two major milestones as part of its expansion strategy21 April 2017, Published under Cement NewsAs part of its expansion strategy, PPC announced this week the inauguration of its Ethiopian operation, Habesha Cement, and the first truck dispatch load of saleable cement from its plant in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The inauguration of Habesha Cement marks the completion of the construction of the factory and installment of the technical and non-technical systems.The ceremony, officiated by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Ato Hailemariam Desalegn, was held at the plant in Hole... |
Pakistan sees decline in 1HFY17 cement exports to South Africa and Afghanistan03 April 2017, Published under Cement NewsPakistan cement exports revenue continued their downward trend, with most of the 14.4 per cent YoY decline in 1HFY17 (July-December) due to two markets, South Africa and Afghanistan. However, a slight consolation was continued strong demand from India which partially offset the declines witnessed in the two aforementioned markets, the country's Central Bank observed in its second quarterly report released on 31 March 2017. Cement exports to Afghanistan and African countries (mainly Sout... |
AfriSam reported to replace CEO ahead of PPC merger17 March 2017, Published under Cement NewsTo help enable the merger with rival PPC, AfriSam is set to replace its CEO, Stephan Olivier after nearly seven years of leading the firm, according to local press reports in South Africa. He would be replaced on a short-term contract by Rob Wessels, a former chief investment officer at AfriSam's black empowerment partner Phembani Group. The new management team would potentially implement the merger with PPC through a reverse of AfriSam into its competitor's listing, two of the source... |
South Africa's proposed carbon tax could cost PPC ZAR90m15 March 2017, Published under Cement NewsSouth Africa’s proposed draft carbon tax bill published in November could see PPC liable for an estimated ZAR90m in carbon tax, according to Pretoria News. However, PPC CEO, Darryl Castle, said the cement producer was currently looking at a number of initiatives to reduce this tax burden. He added that the tax regime did not apply to imports into South Africa. Furthermore, he said it had not been meaningfully implemented elsewhere and Australia had scrapped a similar initiative due to the... |
South Africa: rain dampens PPC Jan-Feb sales14 March 2017, Published under Cement NewsPPC announced that adverse weather had negatively affected its cement and concrete sales in South Africa during January and February 2017. Rainfall in excess of 200mm was experienced in many parts of the country during these two months. The cement manufacturer said it managed to reduce net debt to ZAR4.4bn (US$333.13m) as of December 2016 due to the conclusion of a component of the first empowerment transaction. PPC concluded Strategic Black Partners (SBPs) and Community Service Groups (C... |
PPC27 February 2017, Published under Cement NewsSouth African cement manufacturer PPC is reportedly in talks with its nearest rival AfriSam Group over a possible merger. Merger talks first took place in 2014 when PPC’s share price came under pressure. Today PPC is valued at around US$823m and has borrowed heavily of late to build new capacity in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the slow implementation of infrastructure investment in its home market and the loss of its investment grade debt ratin... |
PPC will strengthen its hand with AfriSam merger17 February 2017, Published under Cement NewsThe focus of a potential merger in South Africa between two major cement producers caught the eye this week. PPC and AfriSam already have a significant stake in the country’s cement market and by merging PPC would extend its dominance to control some 60 per cent of domestic sales, if it accepts AfriSam's offer to merge. As recently as November, PPC’s chief executive, Darryll Castle, suggested that there were too many cement companies operating in the country and that consolidation was requ... |
PCC and AfriSam in merger talks13 February 2017, Published under Cement NewsPPC is in merger talks with its nearest competitor, AfriSam Group, seeking to overcome valuation disagreements that prevented the completion of previous tie-up efforts, according to Reuters. AfriSam first proposed the merger in 2014, when infighting between the PPC board and its former CEO has put downward pressure on PPC’s share price. However, shares in PPC have performed significantly better, increasing by a third this year to date. The cement producer is valued at about ZAR11bn (US... |
South Africa: PPC to fund Slurry Kiln 9 project from B-BBEE deal19 January 2017, Published under Cement NewsJSE-listed cement maker PPC says it has started structuring its new broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) agreement, after it had concluded subscription agreements of another B-BBEE deal, from which the firm received ZAR1bn (US$73.7m). Sibonginkosi Nyanga, an analyst at Momentum SP Reid Securities, said the introduction of the new B-BBEE codes meant that companies had to relook at their empowerment deals. “The issue of the changing of the codes meant most companies, especia... |
Report predicts strengthening demand for cement additives in Nigeria and South Africa09 December 2016, Published under Cement NewsA new report by market research firm Frost & Sullivan forecasts that demand for cement additives in South Africa and Nigeria will grow at an annualised rate of 71 per cent as companies look to differentiate themselves from their competitors. "The weak rand and naira are making it expensive for cement additives manufacturers to continue importing products," noted Frost & Sullivan Visionary Science Industry Analyst, Constance Nyambayo. "As cement companies look to novel, cost-effective addi... |