Cemex announced that its consolidated net sales increased by 4 percent during the fourth quarter of 2013 to approximately $3.9 billion and increased by 2 percent for the full year to $15.2 billion versus the comparable periods of 2012. Operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased by 4 percent during the fourth quarter of 2013 to $642 million and increased by 1 percent for the full year to $2.6 billion versus 2012.
Cemex said that the increase in consolidated net sales was due to higher volumes in the U.S. and its operations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia and South, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as higher product prices in local currency terms in most regions. Operating earnings before other expenses in the fourth quarter increased by 30 percent to $359 million and increased by 17 percent to $1.5 billion for the full-year 2013.
Net sales in Cemex’s operations in Mexico decreased by 6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013 to $785 million, compared with $832 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Operating EBITDA decreased by 17 percent to $247 million versus the same period of 2012.
Cemex’s operations in the U.S. reported net sales of $819 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, up by 8 percent from the same period in 2012. Operating EBITDA increased to $77 million in the quarter, versus a $13 million profit in the same quarter of 2012.
The company’s operations in South, Central America and the Caribbean reported net sales of $577 million during the fourth quarter of 2013, representing an increase of 11 percent over the same period of 2012. Operating EBITDA increased by 15 percent to $183 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, from $159 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.
“During 2013 we continued to deliver. This is our third consecutive year of EBITDA growth, driven by improvement in pricing and volume in most of our regions, the favorable operating leverage effect in the U.S. and our continued initiatives to improve our operating efficiency,” stated Fernando A. González, executive vice president of finance and administration.
