CEMEX Q2 Sales Rise 5%, EBITDA Up 8%; Lifts 2026 Guidance

CEMEX posted a solid second quarter, with net sales climbing 5% year over year to $4.2 billion and EBITDA rising 8% to $820 million. The cement maker also raised its full-year 2026 EBITDA guidance, citing strong first-half momentum.

Net income reached $310 million, up 12% from a year earlier, while free cash flow after maintenance capital expenditure came in at $180 million. CEO Jaime Dominguez said the results reflected “continued demand in our key markets and disciplined execution.”

In the United States, volumes grew 3% on infrastructure and residential demand. Mexico saw flat volumes but pricing improved 4%. The company’s EBITDA margin expanded 60 basis points to 19.5%.

CFO Maher Al-Haffar said CEMEX cut net debt by $200 million during the quarter, bringing the leverage ratio to 2.4 times. The company is on track to hit its full-year target of below 2.5 times, he added.

CEMEX now expects full-year 2026 EBITDA of $3.35 billion to $3.45 billion, up from its prior range of $3.3 billion to $3.4 billion. The revision follows a first half that Dominguez described as “better than we anticipated.”

The company is still working to close the sale of some Colombian operations by year-end, a deal valued at roughly $400 million. Until then, those assets will remain fully consolidated in the profit-and-loss statement.

CEMEX also wrapped up its acquisition of Omega in January. The business contributed $150 million in revenue and $30 million in EBITDA during the first half.

Dominguez said the company expects the second half to benefit from seasonal strength in construction activity and a steady pipeline of infrastructure projects in the U.S. and Latin America.