Humberto Nadal
Analyst · Santander. Please go ahead
Thank you Claudia. Good morning everyone and thank you for joining the Cementos Pacasmayo’s earnings conference call. Our result in the second quarter saw the value of our strategy aimed at being a high margin producer with our focus on efficiency. This strategy has allowed us to expand margin even as we continue to fill the impact of weaker demand mainly for the public sector. Nonetheless we remain optimistic regarding the months of the second semester as we expect volumes relate to infrastructure spending to increase in this period and the years to come. Looking at closely at the demand environment of cement as many of you may know, there was a major deficit in terms of both infrastructure and housing these deficit are estimated at about 2 million household and close to $90 billion in infrastructure. So this our market where there is a long run way for continued demand. In the Northern part of Peru where we operate the market has high balance currency, so Cementos Pacasmayo’s is in a solid position to supply large quantities of cement for large infrastructure project and continue to serve the private sector as well as the self-construction market. During the first half of this year we have seen a significant slowdown in spending on large scale infrastructure projects. As newly elected local governments are still in the building in period. We expect these adjustment period to end soon and cement demand to pick up accordingly. Looking specifically at another part of Peru where we operates, there are three large scale infrastructure projects where we are contracted to providing cement. Firstly, the Talara Refinery, this is a multi-billion dollars project to upgrade a system to double the refinery. We are being contracted to provide cement, concrete and plies for this project. Today nevertheless we estimate that only 10% of the cement needed has been shift. Secondly, the Chavimochic Project, this is also a large scale renovation project aiming to be incorporate over 60,000 acres of land into the irrigation system and improve such irrigation for further almost 50,000 hectors, this will involve the construction of a dam and irrigation channels. We are in the final stages of negotiation the contract to provide all of the cement based project. And we expect to make the first shipments during the first quarter of this year. This project is not only relevant in the construction phase as it demands cement, but it will be especially important in medium our long term as well, it will generate employment that can eventually result in Cements consumption, especially through a self-construction segment. Thirdly, Longitudinal de la Sierra Highway, this is a key road for Peru, stressing over 3500 kilometers. We are providing cement for this project and we estimated that up-to-date less than 15% of those cement for this probably had been shift. In the first half of this year there was delayed in the construction of road, because of the standstill of resources. Shipments have now resumed and we hope there will be no more significant delayed in construction in the coming months and years. Finally, I will like to mention that this week the government announced the public week for the new city Olmos. A city entirely planned around the Olmos irrigation project in Lambayeque also in the north part of Peru. It is the largest urban project in history and the first planned city in the north part of Peru. Investment is estimated at around 600 Nuevo Sol which include the construction of almost 23,000 houses. As well as commercial and traditional and common area, hospital schools, roads in those parts among us. People think it’s a fantastic example of how we will witness in the coming year as both the housing and infrastructure deficit are successfully tackled by well-planned initiatives in Peru. Moving on to the third construction market which account for close to 60% of our volumes, demand has been more resilient. We continue to innovate this sector leveraging our business to various brands. When mode of the innovation was introductions of the [indiscernible] brand of cement, which is a widely oriented brand which complements our portfolio product. Despite the sluggish demand environment were able to raise prices late in the quarter around 3% and have done and these will increase of close to 1.5% in July. Before I turn the call over to Manuel for a closer look of our financial and also to give you an update on our Piura plant. This cement facility would be a landmark in our history, Peru’s first new plant in several decade and the most modern plant in Latin America. We’ll have the capacity of 1.6 million tons per year of cements as well a million tons per year clinker. Meaning we will be able to eliminate completely the import of clinker giving us higher efficiency and visibility in our cost. As of today the plant is in its financial phase, I should say, based on construction and probably on and on budget. In the second quarter we finish electro mechanic set up of all the cement equipment and the beginning of the commissioning stage for the cement line. With expect to begin production of the cement in the coming week our production clinker in the first quarter, like I said as planned. By the end of this year we’ll be within initial 65% production capacity to register for cement, the level would have identified preliminary automotive for a current demand environment. Once we’re at this initial capacity we will be in a position to produce more cement at a lower cost and commercializing it more effectively. We will then be able to increase capacity which is in line with our goal. Finally, I’d like to mention this week we were once again recognized by [indiscernible] Stock Exchange, as part of a good corporate government index. For the three consecutive year and since its creation Cementos Pacasmayo was selected as part of this index which is composed by [indiscernible] companies with highest corporate governance standards. We're very proud to be part of this elite group and we will continue to work on sustaining and improving our corporate governance standards. I would now turn the call over to Manuel for a closer look on our second quarter financial results. Manuel?