Cemex 1997 Annual Report Download - page 20

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14
1997: A Year Of Consolidation
With no new acquisitions or major organiza-
tional changes, 1997 was a year of consolida-
tion for CEMEX USA. Cement sales volumes
declined 3%, while ready-mix sales volumes
were up 2% compared to 1996. The Balcones
plant produced nearly 1 million metric tons of
cement, close to its effective capacity.
In 1997, imports to our Texas, California
and Arizona markets reached 1.7 million
metric tons of cement. Over 72% of these
imports came from Spain. This year, we expect
that more than 50% of our California imports
will come from more inexpensive Southeast
Asian sources.
To bolster our Arizona market presence, we
began supplying “white paving” for the Red
Mountain and Squaw Peak freeways and
expanded our product offerings to include
asphalt chips. We are also working with our
Arizona customers to improve the quality,
consistency and timeliness of our products —
increasing our on-time deliveries by 5% in
1997, well above the regional average.
We opened a new ready-mix facility in
Dallas, Texas, to capitalize on the city’s
enhanced freeway construction. This new plant
brings our total to 48 ready-mix facilities across
the southwest United States.
To continue to attract and retain the top
people, we are developing a human resources
database of our executives’ skills, expertise and
areas of interest. CEMEX USA is also part of a
company wide training program, where new
hires receive multi-functional, cross-border
experience at different CEMEX units.
Balcones Implements Advanced Emissions
Technology
The Balcones cement plant began using new
environmental technology for the advanced pre-
diction and control of emissions. CEMEX USA
also performed industrial safety audits at the
plant and other facilities.
Paving America
ÒWhite pavingÓ for the Red Mountain
freeway in Arizona, USA.
To bolster our market presence, we
began supplying Òwhite pavingÓ and
expanded our product offerings to
include asphalt chips.
California market growth
California Rebound
CEMEX CaliforniaÕs 1997 cement
and ready-mix demand surged
12% and 9%, respectively.
Cement (thousands of metric tons)
Ready-mix concrete (thousands of
cubic meters)
92 93 94 95 96 97
11000
9000
3000
2500
2000
1500
7000
5000