TCL quarterly revenue boosted by higher volumes, clinker exports

Trinidad Cement Ltd's (TCL) revenue rose by seven per cent in 3Q15 to TTD550.1m (US$86.3m) compared to TTD513.7m a year earlier, mainly to increased cement sales volume of 13 per cent in its domestic markets and higher clinker exports.

During the second quarter the group was able to successfully refinance the restructured debt with a bridge loan and in so doing, benefitted from prepayment discounts which has been reflected
in our Q2 results. In the third quarter, the group successfully completed long-term financing which
replaced the bridge loan on 6 August 2015. The bridge was repaid by a syndicated long-term loan of
the equivalent of US$200m and internally generated cash of US$45m.

EBITDA from continuing operations and adjusted for one off debt restructuring credit increased by TTD36.2m (30 per cent) over 3Q14. This performance was largely driven by higher domestic sales volumes, and lower fuel and electricity costs at Caribbean Cement Co Ltd (Jamaica) and Arawak Cement Co Ltd (Barbados).

Finance cost for 3Q15 was TTD12.5m lower than the same period of the previous year due both to the reduced interest rates  from the new syndicated loan and a reduction of the principal loan balance from US$245m to US$200m.

Outlook
With the financial restructuring completed TCL said that the Group’s Balance Sheet has been strengthened  considerably. "The restructuring and streamlining of the operations is well under-way and is expected to result in improved operational performance."