Gresik, E Java (ANTARA News) - State-owned cement producer PT Semen Indonesia Tbk made a net profit of Rp4.01 trillion in 2016, which was lower than the Rp4.52 trillion it made the year before.

"National cement growth in the year was down 3 percent due to the presence of new industries and the projection of a negative 1.1 percent growth in December," Rizkan Chandra, its president and director, said during the commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the holding company at its central office in Gresik, East Java Monday.

Although the company has been under tremendous pressure to boost business, it has continued production, and in several plants the production had been good, he mentioned.

Citing Tuban as an example, he said, production in the plant reached 1, 381,907 tons or five percent above the RKAP (companys work and budget plan) set at 1,304,400 tons, and the figure was also 2 per cent higher than the record production of 1,355,795 tons it achieved in 2015.

In 2017, several factories could achieve this output, he believed.

"We are applying a transformation strategy, from being a mere cement producer to engage in cement business through adjacent portfolio, regional market and cost transformation," he remarked.

PT Semen Indonesia is a holding company covering several firms such as Semen Padang, Semen Gresik, Semen Tonasa and Thang Long Cement Vietnam.

The holding company was established on January 7, 2014, in an effort to boost performance and sustainability and win competition in the industry.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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