(Hong Kong, 21 April 2017) – China Resources Cement Holdings Limited ("China Resources Cement" or the "Company", SEHK stock code: 1313, and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), the largest cement and concrete producer in Southern China, announced its unaudited financial information for the three months ended 31 March 2017 (the "Period").
During the Period, the Company's consolidated turnover amounted to approximately HK$5.8 billion, representing an increase of 22.2% as compared with the corresponding period last year, whereas profit attributable to owners of the Company was HK$600 million, representing an increase of 9,055.6% over that of the corresponding period last year. Basic earnings per share was HK$0.093. As at 31 March 2017, the total assets of the Group amounted to HK$53.5 billion, net gearing ratio was 59.5% and net assets per share was HK$4.1.
During the Period, the external sales volume of cement and clinker reached 16.5 million tons, representing a decrease of 1.4% from that of the corresponding period last year; external sales volume of concrete was 2.6 million m3, representing an increase of 10.0%. The sales of cement, clinker and concrete accounted for 75.5%, 8.0% and 16.5% of the consolidated turnover of the Company respectively. Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces were still the Company's major markets, accounting for 42.4% and 28.5% of the total sales volume of cement respectively. During the Period, the blended average selling price of cement and clinker increased by 27.1% to HK$291.4 per ton, whereas the average selling price of concrete decreased by 1.2% to HK$374.6 per m3.
During the Period, the consolidated gross margin increased by 8.4 percentage points to 29.1% as compared with the corresponding period last year. The gross margins of cement, clinker and concrete for the Period were 31.0%, 19.5% and 24.9% respectively.