Cemex 1999 Annual Report Download - page 25

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23
SOUTH AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
Market highlights
Central America and the Caribbean – CEMEX consolidated its presence
in Central America and the Caribbean by acquiring a 95% stake in
Cementos del Pacifico, Costa Rica’s largest cement producer. Its
850,000-metric-ton cement plant is located near the Nicaraguan
border and exports about 100,000 metric tons of cement annually
to that market. CEMEX also acquired two terminals in Haiti, which
supply almost 70% of the local market.
Regional Integration – Using Venezuela as a base for shared services
in the South America and Caribbean region, CEMEX fully integrated
the administrative and financial functions in the six countries in
which it has majority control and management. For example, CEMEX
centralized the six regional IT centers into one megacenter, which
provides more powerful and versatile hardware, standardized soft-
ware, and a more agile and efficient computer system. Likewise,
CEMEX has transformed the administrative areas – such as finance,
tax, planning, and supply – to increase efficiency, quality, depth,
and timeliness in the control and management of information.
Quality Improvement – During 1999, CEMEX’s regional subsidiaries
implemented several initiatives to cut costs, enhance employee
safety, and improve life quality. Developments include ISO-9002
certification for the three-million-metric-ton Ibague plant in Colombia
and zero-accident, operations, and sales records in Panama.
Production capacity
millions of metric tons/year
By increasing capacity in diverse high-growth
markets, CEMEX has become an active player in
the world’s cement industry consolidation.
Consolidation in Central America
Costa Rica is the most recent addition to CEMEX's
strong network in Central America and the
Caribbean.
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