During the first quarter, Les Ciments de Bizerte announced that it was experiencing financial difficulties, which led to the total suspension of clinker production (its main activity), leaving only the grinding activity and the operation of its quay.
As a result, the company’s total sales in the first quarter fell by 52.5% compared with the same period in 2023, from 25.8 million dinars to 12.2 million.
This fall was mainly due to the total halt in clinker production throughout the quarter, as a result of the financial difficulties that prevented the company from importing petroleum coke, the only fuel for operating the kiln.
In addition, the cement company’s outstanding debt fell from 127.4 million dinars at December 31, 2023 to 123.8 million dinars at March 31, 2024, down 3%.
Operating loans rose from 25.3 million dinars to 27.5 million dinars following the pre-financing of inventories.
The company stresses that these loans will be honored as they fall due, although there is still the possibility of renewing them for a further period.
