- Caribbean Cement Company (CCC) saw its second quarter earnings plummet by 76.9% to J$543.94Mn. The decline came amid higher direct expenses associated with its annual plant maintenance, which outpaced revenue growth.
- Q2 2025 Revenues rose to J$8.13Bn, (up 6.0% or J$460.74Mn year-over-year). However, direct expenses outgrew revenues, rising by 73.9% to J$6.58Bn, primarily due to its planned annual maintenance shutdown.
- With the planned shutdown significantly increasing direct costs during the quarter, gross profits declined by 60.1% to J$1.55Bn, while gross profit margins declined from 50.7% to 19.1%. Operating expenses also rose 5.3%, further weakening operating earnings, which fell by 84.7% to J$421.51Mn). Consequently, operating margins moved from 36.0% to 5.2%.
- CCC’s Q2 2025 results, coupled with modestly lower earnings in Q1 2025, contributed to lower 6M 2025 earnings of $2.54Bn, down 40.7% YoY.
- Looking ahead, CCC is set to enter its third quarter with a stronger operational foundation following the successful commissioning of its kiln expansion project at the end of June, which is expected to significantly boost production capacity and efficiency while supporting long-term sustainability. The expanded kiln will enable CCC to better meet domestic demand, reduce reliance on imports, and enhance cost efficiency and supply chain resilience.
- Local demand is expected to remain stable, driven by ongoing activity in the construction sector, including government infrastructure projects and private investments, particularly in the hotel industry. The company is also planning to export 28,000 tonnes of cement to Caribbean markets, starting as early as August, which points to demand outside of Jamaica.
- As at the close of trading on Wednesday, CCC shares closed at J$84.98, reflecting a 0.56% year-to-date increase. At this price, the shares trade at a P/E of 12.16x, which is below the Main Market Energy, Industrials and Materials Sector of 15.95x.
(Sources: CCC Financial Release & NCBCM Research)