Mexico’s Cemex Boosts Profit by Cutting Costs as Sales Drop in Q2 2025

Mexican cement giant Cemex reported a strong net profit of $318 million for the second quarter, up 38% from last year. This increase came even though sales fell by 5% to $4.13 billion.

The main reason: Cemex made deep cuts to costs and streamlined its operations. Poor weather and slow government building in Mexico, plus weak U.S. housing demand, caused double-digit drops in cement sales in Cemex’s two biggest markets.

Still, Cemex managed to cut operating expenses by 3% and trimmed its workforce by 5%, according to its official statements. Even though earnings before tax and other charges (EBITDA) dropped 11%, tighter spending pushed up Cemex’s final profit.

Cemex survived these rough spots by focusing more on markets like Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where construction remained strong.

Profits in these regions helped balance out declines at home, showing Cemex’s risk is spread over many markets. New CEO Jaime Muguiro, who stepped in early this year, continues to push for more cost savings and steady management.

Why does this matter? Cement sales are tied closely to how much building and infrastructure activity is happening.

Falling sales often mean less big construction. But Cemex’s results show that careful planning and spending cuts can keep a business healthy, even when markets slow down.

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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief