Beck Readymix asset deal ushers Cemex back to acquisition arena

A seller on North American and overseas cement, aggregate and concrete business deals since its 2007 Rinker Group takeover, Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. has turned the page, closing on the assets of Texas’ Beck Readymix Concrete Co. Ltd. Announced in mid-February, the deal includes one portable and three fixed plants to service the San Antonio metropolitan area and surrounding markets.

“Texas is experiencing explosive growth, and Cemex has repeatedly shown it is ready to make moves to help fuel it,” says Cemex USA Texas Regional President Scott Ducoff. “By acquiring these facilities, [we] will be able to deliver our high-quality products that many Texans are already familiar with to satisfy the high demand of customers of one of the state’s most dynamic markets.”

“[We are] proactively looking for opportunities to grow our operations in the U.S. and adapting to meet the needs of our customers,” adds Cemex USA President Jaime Muguiro. “We are excited that this acquisition will expand our product offering to customers in a market that’s been our neighbor for more than 25 years.”

The Beck Readymix operations are located about 25 miles from the Balcones Cement Plant and Balcones Quarry in New Braunfels, which Cemex has operated since 1994. The country’s largest aggregates source by volume per the U.S. Geological Survey, the Balcones Quarry recently marked its 50th anniversary.


WEST COAST TERMINAL REPLENISHMENT
Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. will invest around $15 million to fire up an idled kiln at its CPN cement plant in northwest Mexico, yielding more powder for terminals north of the border by mid-2021. The producer presently supplies more than 3 million tons of cement annually across Arizona, California and Nevada from its Victorville plant, north of Los Angeles, and sea-borne imports. The CPN kiln restart will contribute to increased Victorville efficiencies, while other supply chain modifications are planned to help deliver hundreds of thousands of additional tons of cement to key U.S. markets.

“Many cement customers in California, Arizona and Nevada have been impacted by supply constraints this past year,” says Cemex USA Executive Vice President – Cement Commercial Joel Galassini. “The decision to recommission this kiln was made with our customers top of mind, to give them reliable access through a local supply chain. Our unique network of production facilities in this region allows us to make investments that will have a meaningful impact on meeting customers’ needs.”

“With the kiln going back into operation, we are leveraging our strong network and local assets,” adds Regional President – Arizona Region David Nabavi. “We strive to provide customers a superior experience and deliver the materials they need when they need them.”