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Stock Markets March 12, 2026

Cemex to divest select Colombian assets in roughly $555 million of transactions

Holcim to acquire key plants as Cemex narrows footprint outside core markets

By Nina Shah
Cemex to divest select Colombian assets in roughly $555 million of transactions

Cemex announced plans to sell a package of Colombian operations expected to generate about $555 million in proceeds. Holcim will acquire a cement plant, a grinding mill and a portfolio of additional plants for $485 million, while Cemex is negotiating separately for roughly $70 million in other assets. The company will keep two cement plants with combined installed capacity of 1.6 million metric tons and other local operations as it focuses investment on the U.S., Europe and Mexico.

Key Points

  • Cemex expects total proceeds of about $555 million from planned asset sales in Colombia.
  • Holcim will purchase a cement plant, a grinding mill and a portfolio of other plants for $485 million, with the deal expected to close by year-end.
  • Cemex is negotiating separate sales of additional Colombian assets worth about $70 million and will retain two cement plants with combined installed annual capacity of 1.6 million metric tons, plus a grinding mill, ready-mix plants and aggregates quarries.

Mexican cement producer Cemex said on Wednesday it will dispose of certain assets in Colombia in a set of transactions that are expected to yield about $555 million in total proceeds as the company narrows its operations outside its priority markets.

In a statement, Cemex confirmed that peer Holcim will acquire a cement plant, a grinding mill and a portfolio of other plants for $485 million. The company said the transaction with Holcim is expected to close by the end of the year.

Separately, Cemex said it is engaged in discussions with undisclosed parties regarding additional assets valued at approximately $70 million. Details on those potential transactions, including counterparties and timing, were not provided.

The company will retain two cement plants in Colombia with combined installed annual capacity of 1.6 million metric tons, in addition to a grinding mill, ready-mix plants and aggregates quarries.

Commenting on the divestment activity, Chief Executive Jaime Muguiro said, "We are pleased with the continued progress we are making in further streamlining our portfolio, while we focus on investing and strengthening our position in key geographies and businesses in the U.S., Europe and Mexico."

The moves follow a broader pattern of Cemex trimming assets outside its core territories, after prior sales in Central America and the Philippines over the last two years.

On the buyer side, Cemex noted that Holcim's management has signalled openness to sizable acquisitions. Holcim completed the purchase of German walling systems maker Xella for 1.85 billion euros (about $2.14 billion using $1 = 0.8660 euros), and its chief executive said late last year that large acquisitions could be possible in subsequent months.

Market participants will watch the timeline for the Holcim closing and the outcome of talks over the $70 million of additional assets, as both affect the ultimate proceeds and the companies' footprints in Colombia.

Context and implications

  • The announced transactions are part of Cemex's deliberate portfolio trimming outside its core geographies.
  • Holcim's purchase expands its local production footprint through acquisition of existing cement and grinding assets.
  • Cemex retains significant Colombian operations, including two plants with 1.6 million metric tons of installed annual capacity and other building-materials operations.

Risks

  • Timing risk - the Holcim transaction is expected to close by year-end, leaving execution and closing timing uncertain for investors and stakeholders.
  • Counterparty uncertainty - talks for roughly $70 million of additional assets are with undisclosed parties, creating uncertainty about whether those sales will be completed and on what terms.
  • Market and operational impact - reshaping Cemex's Colombian asset base may influence local construction-materials supply dynamics and affect regional market participants in the cement and aggregates sectors.

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