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With a history stretching back over 70 years marked by excellence, social responsibility and respect for the environment, Eternit has grown in step with Brazil by supplying the construction industry with raw materials, products and solutions.
The year 2014 was marked by a challenging economic scenario and weaker demand for construction materials. Even so, Eternit managed to seize the opportunities that emerged, with its performance surpassing the overall industry.
Our chrysotile mining and finished product units operated at full capacity and the fiber-cement and concrete roofing tiles line kept pace with market demand. SAMA maintained its market share as the world’s third largest mining company in terms of chrysotile production, while Eternit and Tégula maintained their leadership with market shares of approximately 32% and 31%, respectively, in each segment.
Investments in 2014 amounted to R$116.2 million, increasing 24.2% on 2013. The investment highlights in the period were the installation of the unit for the research, development and production of construction material inputs and the maintenance and modernization of the Group’s industrial facilities. The year 2015 will mark a period for consolidating all the investments made in recent years, drawing on the strength of our brand, the strategic location of our plants, our efficient logistics operations and our broad network of over 16,000 points of sale.
In 2014, Companhia Sulamericana de Cerâmica (CSC) began conducting equipment trials and achieved the minimum pace expected for initial production. In 2015, we expect to ramp up production levels in line with the evolution of this greenfield project.
Our performance and the results achieved in 2014 were guaranteed by the team of professionals of the Eternit Group, who play a fundamental role in implementing the Company’s business strategies, which is why we are constantly working to invest in and value these employees. The efforts made on this front were recognized by the market, with Eternit and SAMA figuring in important people management rankings.
Other highlights on this front include the continuous pursuit of excellence in corporate governance, with a focus on the development and growth of professionals, on promoting a safe workplace and pleasant work climate and on transparency in our relationships with all related parties.
Eternit is well positioned to meet the demand for construction materials and, if current market conditions persist, it will maximize its capture of opportunities in the industry, in line with its organic growth strategy. Regardless of the challenges posed by the current situation in the Brazilian economy and in the Company’s industry, we are confident in a recovery in the Brazilian economy, especially in our industry.
We take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the Ten Principles of the Global Compact, to which we are signatories since 2007. We would like to thank all of those who contributed to Eternit’s performance in 2014 for their support and confidence in the future, in particular our shareholders, employees, clients and consumers, suppliers, regulatory agencies, business partners, governments and non-governmental organizations.
