LAGOS – One of Africa’s leading cement manufacturers, BUA Cement Plc, has announced a 25.1% increase in revenue of N54.0billion in its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. BUA Cement’s profit before Tax (PBT) increased by 15.7% from N17.4 billion, as at Q1’2019 to N20.1 billion in Q1’2020 while Profit After Tax (PAT) in Q1 2020 stood at N19.8 billion – a 26.2% increase of from N15.7 billion in Q1’2019. This was contained in a filing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange today.
Speaking on the results, the Managing Director/CEO of BUA Cement Plc, Yusuf Binji said the excellent performance in the Q1 financial results amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is yet another landmark of the company since its listing on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. The company’s performance was buoyed by an increase in production capacity from 5million metric tonnes at the end of Q1’2019 to 8million metric tonnes currently; its strong product differentiation strategy which translates to an increasing appreciation of BUA Cement product offering and a growing distribution network across existing and new markets.
Binji said: “The turn of the year witnessed the achievement of yet another milestone, with the completion of listing requirements of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), emerging the third-most capitalised company on the exchange; with a market capitalisation of N1.2 trillion ($3.3 billion) and the de-listing of the shares of CCNN Plc. Subsequently, BUA Cement was included as a constituent of the MSCI frontier market index in February.
“Undoubtedly, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic will have broader ramifications to the world and indeed the world economy, even as governments institute measures to curtail further spread of the virus. Nationally, Nigeria has not been immune to the wave of the virus; with the government instituting safety measures whilst building capacity, in preparedness for possible high number of cases.
“In response to the global pandemic, we implemented our “COVID business continuity program”, built into our corporate governance framework. This minimises disruptions along the value chain; prioritises the safety of workers and customers; and assesses probable scenarios a prolonged lockdown would have on the business.
“Clearly, our strong-showing epitomises the effect of further growth in output but most importantly, a growing appreciation of the value and service offering we continue to afford customers in the market place: with sales revenue increasing by 25.1% (y/y) to N54 billion. We continue to anticipate changes to customer and market behaviour, aimed at further strengthening our value model, even as we continue our push into ‘new markets’.
“As the COVID-19 virus makes landfall, we believe the current measures in place, should help minimise plausible downside risks; nevertheless, poised to take advantage of an upturn in market activities”. Binji added.
I. Financial Highlights
- Revenue increases by 25.1% from N43.1 billion in Q1’2019 to N54.0 billion, as at Q1’2020
- EBITDA increases by 16.7% from N21.1 billion in Q1’2019 to N24.6 billion, as at Q1’2020
- EBITDA margin declines from 48.9% in Q1’2019 to 45.6% in Q1’2020, arising from the continued push into ‘new markets’
- Operating profit up 15.6%, from N18.2 billion in Q1’2019 to N21.0 billion in Q1’2020
- Profit before Tax (PBT) increases by 15.7% from N17.4 billion, as at Q1’2019 to N20.1 billion, as at Q1’2020
- Profit after Tax (PAT) up 26.2%, from N15.7 billion in Q1’2019 to N19.8 billion, as at Q1’2020
- Earnings Per Share (EPS) up 26.1% from 46kobo in Q1’2019 to 58 kobo, as at Q1’2020
II. Operational Highlights
- Cement volume dispatched up 20.0% from 1,107 kt in Q1’2019 to 1,328 kt, as at Q1’2020; underpinned by increased capacity output and growing market acceptance
- Throughput from OBU line-II reads positively; commissioned in the second quarter of 2019
- Continued in-roads to ‘new markets’ aided by our distribution strategy
- Implementation of COVID-19 business continuity plan
About BUA Cement Plc
BUA Cement Plc is Nigeria’s second-largest cement producer and the largest producer in its North-West, South-South and South-East regions; with a combined installed capacity of 8 mmtpa and with plans underway to increase existing capacity to 11 mmtpa, through the commissioning of a new 3 mmtpa plant by the first half of 2021 in Sokoto State, Nigeria. BUA Cement operates strategically from Okpella, Edo State and Kalambaina, Sokoto State.
BUA Cement Plc is a business combination between CCNN Plc (Sokoto Cement) and BUA Cement Manufacturing Company’s Obu Cement Company and is the third most capitalised company on the floor of the Exchange.
BUA Cement is committed to quality – a differentiating attribute, driven by its people, innovation and technology; and positioned to solving Nigeria and Africa’s challenges while driving economic growth and development.
More information can be found at www.buacement.com
