Cement producer Cemex reported that its South, Central America and Caribbean division, which includes Jamaica, delivered US$66 million in operating EBITDA for the second quarter, 34 per cent higher year-on-year.

It was the sharpest margin expansion of any Cemex division in the June quarter, according the group, described as one of the world’s top-five cement producers.

“Cement demand in the region was led by the informal sector, with Jamaica also benefiting from a pickup in reconstruction efforts related to last year’s Hurricane Melissa, as well as from tourism-related projects,” the Mexico-based company said in its earnings filing this month.

The division generated US$307 million in sales for the quarter, up 7.0 per cent year-on-year in reported terms, though flat on a like-to-like basis after adjusting for currency movements. Regional cement volumes rose 1.0 per cent, with higher volumes in Colombia and Jamaica offsetting softer performance in other markets.

The Jamaica contribution is notable, given the scale of the hurricane’s damage. Melissa struck the island in late October 2025, destroying or damaging thousands of structures across the western parishes and triggering what the Government has estimated will be a multi-year rebuilding effort. Cement and building blocks largely dominate Jamaica’s housing sector.

The margin improvement was also driven by cost management under Cemex’s company-wide Project Cutting Edge efficiency programme, which delivered US$60 million in savings across the group during the quarter.

Consolidated group results were robust. Cemex reported total sales of US$4.6 billion, up 7.0 per cent like-to-like, with operating EBITDA of US$1 billion, up 18 per cent. Free cash flow from operations surged to US$637 million from US$204 million a year earlier.

The strong Caribbean quarter comes as Cemex systematically shrinks its regional footprint. The company sold its Dominican Republic operations to Cementos Progreso Holdings for US$928 million in January 2025, divesting a cement plant with two production lines along with ready-mix, aggregates and marine terminal assets – a deal that generated a US$551-million gain on sale. Nine months later, it offloaded its Panama operations substantially to Grupo Estrella for US$200 million, taking a US$63-million loss on the disposal. A third exit is under way: Cemex has agreed to sell its Colombia cement, ready-mix, aggregates, mortars and admixtures businesses for approximately US$485 million, with the transaction expected to close by year end. The Colombian assets, which carried net book value of US$332 million as of June 30, have been reclassified as held for sale. Once the Colombia deal closes, Cemex’s remaining Caribbean and Central American operations will centre on Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Guyana, Barbados, Peru and The Bahamas.

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