In 2014, Cemex cement sales in Puerto Rico fell 10.6 per cent YoY to 24,000t, according to Enrique García, president of Cemex Puerto Rico.

The 55-year low has prompted the country’s largest cement producer to take action, including laying off 18 staff at its Ponce plant.

"We are being proactive after a thorough analysis of the subject. The aim is to ensure the future of our company. In a crisis we can not control, we are focussing our decisions on factors that themselves are within our reach. We have to look at instead of worrying, " Mr García said.