The current economic climate and the opportunities for cash-rich cement players

摘要

Everyone is aware of the gloomy picture being painted by the world's economic and political commentators regarding the current financial situation. We have experienced unprecedented turmoil which has so far resulted in the demise of world renowned investment banks such as Merrill Lynch and Lehman Bros. The bursting of the American housing bubble - from 2.1m new units in 2005 to 900,000 per annum currently and dropping - initiated a catastrophic chain of events that may not have run their full circle yet. My questions are what the effects will be on the cement and related products industry, and how the sector will react in the next five years?