Filtered Press Release : 2022 Feb

Tokyo Cement Group publishes FY22 Q3 Financial Performance

Colombo, 9th February 2022:

Quarterly Financial Review
Tokyo Cement Group (Tokyo Cement) reported its financial performance for the third quarter ending 31st December 2021, with a turnover of Rs. 13,771 million reflecting a Year-on-Year growth of 20%, compared to Rs. 11,456 million during the same period last year. Despite a turnover growth, Tokyo Cement’s sales volumes reduced by 3% compared to the third quarter last year due to supply chain shortfalls.
The Group recorded Rs. 1,986 million profit before tax for the third quarter, a 38% growth against Rs. 1,442 million for the same period last year, whilst recording a profit after tax of Rs. 1,649 million as against Rs. 1,303 million during the same period last year.

Revision to the MRP
The increase in cost of production due to increased freight and raw material costs, and currency depreciation, led cement manufacturers to increase the retail price of a 50kg bag of cement to Rs.1,275/- with effect from 7th November. This 16% increment of price in a period of 3 years (against the MRP of Rs. 1,095/- in 2019) is denoted the lowest price increase across any building material, despite significant cost increases during the same period. Further freight and raw material cost hikes increased the price of a 50kg bag of cement to the current retail price of Rs. 1,375/- as of 1st of January.

The Environment
Unlike the preceding quarter this quarter did not see any lockdowns or strictly enforced travel restrictions, allowing for businesses to operate relatively uninhibited. However, the country experienced unusually heavy and persistent wet weather conditions throughout October and November which slowed down construction related activities.

During this quarter, we saw a scarcity of many construction essentials, from cement to steel to tiles to all types of building materials and household accessories, due to the delays in opening LCs because of forex illiquidity. This shortage of construction materials in turn led to project delays and idle labour, and therefore additional project expenditure.

This situation was compounded by finished cement importers drastically cutting down importation due to heightened fiscal barriers, thus resulting in a severe market shortage. While Tokyo Cement enforces the MRP with its retailers, the scarcity of cement has allowed for a secondary market to emerge in which cement is sold beyond the labelled prices.

Market Review
The 3% drop in sales compared to the 3rd quarter last year came as a result of multiple restrictions on the Company’s output. Delays in opening LC in a timely manner inhibited the continuous supply of both raw material for production, as well as the importation of cement as a finished good. On the other hand, Tokyo Cement’s local production process had a minor setback due to a breakdown of a cement grinding mill for a period of more than two weeks towards the end of Q3.
However, to ensure an uninterrupted supply to the market and compensate for reduced local manufacturing output, the company increased cement importation by 20% during the 3rd quarter compared to the same quarter last year, importing not only bulk cement but also bagged cement to satiate market demand.
Despite a very challenging market environment, Tokyo Cement was able to maintain its market share of 35% during the third quarter of this year, similar to what was held the previous year.

Outlook
Continuous increases in global coal and oil prices, in addition to freight costs are expected to escalate the cost of raw materials further. Global losses in production efficiencies due to the spread of the Omicron variant will continue to impact raw material prices and create further supply chain shortfall. Increasing case numbers across the country could lead to reduced economic activity and productivity reductions in construction sites.

The company is confident of maintaining local production levels at the highest possible capacity utilisation to ensure an uninterrupted supply. In keeping with this assurance, Tokyo Cement kicked off two strategic business expansion projects during the third quarter. First is the foundation laying for a factory expansion project, to increase the manufacturing capacity of Tokyo Cement by further 1 million Metric Tons by early 2023. The project will increase Tokyo Cement Group’s total cement grinding capacity to 4 million MT. Next, the Company started trial runs of the Tokyo Cement Colombo Terminal expansion which should come online in Q4. This terminal expansion will ramp up the Company’s total bulk cement importation, packaging and distribution capacity from 600,000MT p.a. to over 1,000,000MT p.a.

In terms of the national economy, immediate measures must be implemented to attract Dollar remittances and investments in the short term to increase the country’s foreign reserves, coupled with more focused approaches to reinstate investor confidence. Further depreciation of the currency would have a profitability impact on the recorded period as imported materials are exposed to credit of over 180days.

More holistic and long-term policy frameworks must be implemented to encourage local manufacturers to maximize existing installed production capacity. The implementation of such policy must be part of a wide-ranging national framework to reduce the dependency on imports and contribute significantly to reduce unnecessary outflow of foreign exchange.
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Tokyo Cement appoints Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World 2021 Sade Greenwood as Social & Sustainability Ambassador

Tokyo Cement Group announces the appointment of Miss Sade Greenwood as the group’s Social and Sustainability Ambassador. Mr. S. R. Gnanam, Managing Director of Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding conferring the Ambassadorship to Ms. Greenwood. Through this affiliation, Sade will work together with Tokyo Cement to create public awareness on multiple social and sustainability initiatives carried out by the company, with the objective of rallying more people, especially the youth, to become active participants of environmental conservation and social upliftment.

Miss Sade Greenwood, Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World 2021 represented Sri Lanka at the international beauty pageant held in Puerto Rico in December 2021. Miss Greenwood was selected among the Top 40 contestants and was also among the Top 25 Judges Choices to win the Miss World 2021 title, the highest ever ranking won by a Sri Lankan contestant in forty years. The final crowning of Miss World 2021, which got rescheduled due to the pandemic, will be held in Puerto Rico in March this year.

Driven by her passion to make a positive difference in the world, Ms. Greenwood with her keen interest in marine conservation is already involved in several programs that are very close to her heart. Through her active involvement Sade has been able to garner wider awareness and support towards these causes that have a deep impact on our environment and communities.

Tokyo Cement Group leads multiple sustainability programs that are designed to make a lasting impact on the lives of all Sri Lankans. The company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility breathes life through these impactful programs, by which Tokyo Cement has successfully integrates social welfare and environmental conservation into its corporate DNA as part of a continuous mission to enrich the country, its people, and the environment.

Filtered Press Release : 2022 Feb

Tokyo Cement Group publishes FY22 Q3 Financial Performance

Tokyo Cement appoints Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World 2021 Sade Greenwood as Social & Sustainability Ambassador

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