PPC records sales growth

PPC reported that it has seen its sales volume grow by over 20 per cent YoY in Rwanda and Zimbabwe, for the nine-month period ended 31 December 2017.

Assisted by stable pricing and a positive export performance, volumes increased by 20-30 per cent YoY in Rwanda. Similarly, its Zimbabwean operations registered an uptake of 30-40 per cent when compared to the year-ago period.

However, PPC estimates that overall cement demand in South Africa declined by 3-4 per cent in the full-year 2017. A further decrease of 1-2 per cent has been realised in the current year-to-date.

Johan Claasen, interim chief executive of PPC, clarified that the company maintained its market-leading position in South Africa for the 9M17 period, despite the challenging environment. Mr Claasen also commented on how the rest of the company’s portfolio in Africa has been delivering solid results, according to a report in the Cape Times. PPC’s operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo increased its market share to 25-35 per cent in the final stages of 2017.