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Operational update for the twelve months ending 31 March 2022 and change to board committee
PPC Ltd
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Company registration number 1892/000667/06)
JSE ISIN: ZAE000170049
JSE code: PPC ZSE code: PPC
(“PPC” or “Company” or “Group”)
OPERATING UPDATE FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING 31 MARCH 2022 AND CHANGES
TO BOARD COMMITTEE
OPERATING UPDATE FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING 31 MARCH 2022
GROUP PERFORMANCE
PPC expects total Group cement sales volumes for the twelve months
ending 31 March 2022 to increase by 4%-8% year-on-year, with double-
digit volume growth in Zimbabwe and Rwanda. South Africa and Botswana
cement experienced low single digit growth in cement sales as volumes
normalised from a high base. Relative to the twelve months ended 31
March 2020 (Pre-COVID-19), Group cement sales are expected to increase
by 11%-15%. The Group’s materials businesses also experienced a
recovery in demand with year-on-year growth in sales volumes.
SOUTH AFRICA & BOTSWANA CEMENT
PPC expects cement sales volumes in South Africa & Botswana to increase
by 0%-3% year-on-year for the twelve months ending 31 March 2022. The
prior comparable period benefited from strong retail demand due to
increased expenditure on home improvements. Relative to the twelve
months ended 31 March 2020 (Pre-COVID-19), cement sales in South
Africa & Botswana are expected to increase by 5%-9%.
PPC South Africa and Botswana cement sales continue to benefit from
demand growth in the rural and informal markets, albeit at a
“normalised” rate following the post COVID-19 lockdown spike in
demand. Industrial construction activity in the inland area shows
pockets of demand growth from the construction of distribution centres
and the increase in mining activity.
PPC experienced an increase in cement sales in the coastal region with
low single-digit year-on-year demand growth supported by a recovery
in industrial construction demand. However, despite the improvement
in demand, cement sales in the coastal region is still below the
twelve months ended 31 March 2020 (Pre-COVID-19).
PPC has yet to experience any meaningful uplift in cement sales from
the government’s designation related to the use of locally produced
cement on government projects. Except for some limited road
construction and rehabilitation activity, there have been no large
infrastructure projects. PPC is well-positioned to benefit from this
potential boost in cement demand once the infrastructure programme
gathers momentum. PPC can immediately make additional capacity
available to capture an upswing in demand. PPC implemented price
increases to offset input cost inflation with realised selling prices
increasing by 4%-7% year-on-year for the twelve months ending 31 March
2022.
Cement imports, mainly from Vietnam, increased by 11% year-on-year
and currently exceeds pre-COVID-19 levels. PPC estimates that imports
account for approximately 10% of RSA cement sales. In conjunction with
the industry, PPC continues to engage with the relevant authorities
for relief against unfair competition from imports, which threatens
the financial sustainability of a vital component of the manufacturing
and construction sector and erodes the industry's ability to maintain
jobs.
MATERIALS
The readymix and aggregates businesses continue to experience a
recovery in demand supported by a pick-up in construction activity in
the regions in which they operate. For the twelve months ending 31
March 2022, PPC expects readymix volumes to increase by 5%-10% year-
on-year, while aggregates volumes are expected to increase by 10%-14%
year-on-year. Fly ash sales volumes are expected to decrease by 14%-
18% due to an unusually strong performance in the prior year due to
lack of slag in the market. Overall, revenues for the materials
division are expected to increase due to the increase in sales of
readymix and aggregates.
ZIMBABWE
PPC Zimbabwe continues to trade well and ahead of expectations. For
the twelve months ending 31 March 2022, PPC Zimbabwe’s cement sales
volumes are expected to increase by 21%-25% year-on-year, benefiting
from retail demand, increased sales to concrete product manufacturers,
and support from Government-funded projects. Relative to the
comparable period ended 31 March 2020 (Pre-COVID-19), cement sales
volumes are expected to increase by 33%-36%.
RWANDA
CIMERWA experienced an upswing in cement sales in the last six months
following the initiation of anticipated projects such as the
construction of a new airport. For the twelve months ending 31 March
2022, CIMERWA expects cement sales volumes to increase by 18%-20%
year-on-year due to cement demand for critical infrastructure and
housing projects to realise an urbanisation target of 34% by 2024.
Relative to the comparable period ended 31 March 2020 (Pre-COVID-19),
cement sales volumes are expected to increase by 26%-30%.
LIQUIDITY & CASH FLOW
South Africa gross debt declined to R1.2 billion at 28 February 2022
(30 September 2021: R1.7 billion) due to a continued focus on cash
generation and the proceeds from the sale of PPC Lime, and the Botswana
aggregates business.
OUTLOOK
PPC is well-positioned to benefit from growing cement demand in the
territories it operates. The Group remains focused on improving
operational efficiencies to ensure financial sustainability through
all demand cycles.
PPC CAPITAL MARKETS DAY
PPC is hosting a Capital Markets Day today at 10h00 (SA time) at the
Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town. The event will be broadcast live via a
webcast with live Q & A sessions. Further details can be accessed at
the following links:
Investor presentation:
https://www.ppc.africa/investors-relations/reports/?t=presentations-
allocate
Webcast:
https://presentations.corpcam.com/RegistrationPage.aspx?id=PPC230320
22
CHANGES TO BOARD COMMITTEE
In compliance with paragraph 3.59 of the JSE Listings Requirements, PPC
wishes to advise its shareholders of the renaming of the Investment Committee
to the Strategy and Investment Committee and the appointment of Mr R van
Wijnen as a member of the Strategy and Investment Committee.
The composition of the Strategy and Investment Committee will now be as
follows:
Mr C Naude
Mr A Ball
Mr B Moltke Hansen
Ms K Maphisa
Mr M Thompson
Mr R van Wijnen
Sandton
23 March 2022
Sponsor:
Questco Corporate Advisory Proprietary Limited
Financial Communications Advisor:
Instinctif Partners
Louise Fortuin
Mobile: +27 71 605 4294
Date: 23-03-2022 07:05:00
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