Our History

1906

CEMEX is founded in 1906 with the opening of the Cementos Hidalgo plant in northern Mexico.

1909

CEMEX doubles the annual production capacity at the Cementos Hidalgo plant to 66,000 tons.

1912

The Mexican Revolution causes CEMEX to halt production at the Cementos Hidalgo plant; the lack of available energy, communication channels, and human resources prevent the company from profitably distributing cement.

1919

In the face of a difficult political and economic environment, CEMEX resumes partial production at the Cementos Hidalgo plant.

1920

Cementos Portland Monterrey initiates operations with 20,000 tons of annual production capacity.
The plants first kiln uses the long single-step dry process–the most modern technology of its time. 
The plant markets Cemento Portland Monterrey branded cement to satisfy customer demand in northeastern Mexico.

1921

In February, CEMEX resumes full production at the Cementos Hidalgo plant.

1930

With the installation of a second kiln, CEMEX expands the production capacity of its Monterrey plant 100 percent to meet demand in northeastern Mexico.

1931

Cementos Hidalgo and Cementos Portland Monterrey merge to form Cementos Mexicanos S.A.

1943

CEMEX’s Monterrey plant expands its production capacity to 250 tons daily.

1948

CEMEX’s annual production capacity reaches 124,000 tons, a nearly fourfold increase from 1906.

1951

With a production capacity of 300 tons daily, the fourth kiln at CEMEX’s Monterrey plant initiates operation.

1956

CEMEX commemorates its 50th anniversary of supporting Mexico’s construction industry.

1959

With the expansion of its Monterrey plant, CEMEX sells 230,420 tons of gray cement and 14,692 tons of white cement for the year.

1960

CEMEX’s Monterrey plant expands its production capacity to 500 tons per day.

1966

CEMEX acquires Cementos Maya’s plant in Mérida and continues to satisfy demand in southern mexico through the Cemento Portland Maya brand.

1966

CEMEX starts production at its new Valles plant which serves the Huasteca region of Mexico through the Cemento Portland Monterrey brand.

1967

CEMEX initiates production at its Torréon cement plant to satisfy growing demand in northeastern Mexico through the Cemento Puzolana Monterrey and Cemento Portland Monterrey brands.

1971

CEMEX’s Torréon plant begins production at its second kiln. With a production capacity of 1,250 tons per day, the kiln features a two-phase pre-heater.

1972

CEMEX’s Monterrey and Mérida plants initiate production at their new kilns. The kilns feature modern two-phase pre-heaters and each produce approximately 1,250 tons daily.

1973

CEMEX acquires the Cementos Portland del Bajío plant in central Mexico.

1974

CEMEX’s Monterrey plant begins production at its eighth kiln. With an installed production capacity of 1,300 tons per day–the kiln features a four-phase pre-heater and an electrostatic precipitator.

1976

CEMEX lists on the Mexican stock exchange and becomes Mexico’s market leader with the acquisition of Cementos Guadalajara.

1978

CEMEX’s Monterrey and Mérida plants initiate production at their ninth and second kilns, respectively.
The kilns’ four-phased pre-heaters reduce the cost of installation and collect dust in their filters. 
With a production capacity of 1,300 tons per day, the kilns help to meet the growing demand of the country’s southern and northeastern regions.

1979

CEMEX’s Torréon and Ensenada plants initiate production at their third kilns. With an installed capacity of 1,300 tons per day, each kiln uses a four-phased pre-heater.

1981

With an installed capacity of 2,200 tons per day, a new kiln in CEMEX’s Valles plan starts operations.

1982

CEMEX’s Monterrey and Torréon plants initiate production at their tenth and fourth kilns, respectively. The kilns four-stage pre-heaters and pre-calcinators represent important technological advances for the company; by enabling the de-carbonation of up to 90% of the plants’ raw materials and reducing the size of kilns, they offer cost savings in installation and spare parts. Each plants installed production capacity is 2,200 tons per day.

1983

CEMEX’s Guadalajara plant begins production at its fourth kiln. With a production capacity of 2,200 tons daily, the kiln features both four-stage pre-heater and pre-calcinator.

1985

For the first time, CEMEX’s annual sales exceed 6.7 million tons of cement and clinker, and the annual sales of three cement plants–Monterrey, Guadalajara and Torréon–each surpass 1 million tons.

1985

In a country of growing conglomerates, CEMEX decides to divest non-core assets.

1985

CEMEX exports reach 574 thousand tons of cement and clinker a year.

1986

CEMEX begins production at its Huichapan plant–using the most advanced industry technology–and distributes cement to builders in the central part of Mexico. With the plants annual production capacity of more than 1 million tons of cement, the company’s installed capacity exceeds 10.7 million tons a year.

1986

Through co-investments with North American cement companies, CEMEX consolidates its export program.

1987

CEMEX acquires Cementos Anáhuac and dispatches the companies first post-merger-integration team to consolidate the new operations.

1987

CEMEX begins the deployment of a company-wide satellite communications system, CEMEXNet.

1989

The acquisition of Cementos Tolteca, Mexico’s second-largest cement producer, CEMEX becomes one of the ten largest cement companies in the world.

1992

With the acquisition of Valenciana and Sanson, Spain’s two largest cement companies, CEMEX initiates its international expansion into the European market.

1993

CEMEX establishes Neoris (formerly Cemtec) to serve as its in-house supplier of information-technology services.

1994

The acquisition of Vencemos, Venezuela’s largest cement company, CEMEX begins operations in South America.

1994

With the acquisition of Cemento Bayano in Panama, CEMEX initiates operations in Central America.

1994

CEMEX expands its operations by acquiring Balcones, a cement plant in the USA.

1994

CEMEX launches its alternative fuels strategy and begins converting its plants to enable them to use petroleum coke.

1994

CEMEX formally establishes its ecoefficiency program, the cornerstone of its sustainable development strategy.

1995

With the acquisition of the Dominican republic’s leading cement company, Cementos Nacionales, CEMEX establishes operations in the Caribbean.

1996

CEMEX becomes the worlds third largest cement company with the acquisition of Colombia’s Cementos Diamante and Samper.

1997

CEMEX initiates operations in Asia with the acquisition of Rizal Cement in the Philippines.

1999

CEMEX acquires APO cement in the Philippines and increases its investment in Rizal Cement.

1999

CEMEX begins operations in Africa with the acquisition of the Assiut Cement Company, one of Egypt’s leading cement producers.

1999

CEMEX begins operations in Africa with the acquisition of the Assiut Cement Company, one of Egypt’s leading cement producers.

1999

By acquiring Cementos del Pacifico, Costa Rica’s largest cement producer, CEMEX consolidates its presence in Central America and the Caribbean.

1999

CEMEX lists on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CX”.

2000

CEMEX becomes north Americas largest cement producer with the acquisition of the US-based Southdown.

2000

The company launches its CEMEX Way initiative to identify, incorporate and execute standardized best practices throughout the organization.

2000

Standard & Poor’s upgrades CEMEX’s credit rating to investment grade.

2001

CEMEX increases its presence in Central America by initiating operations in Nicaragua.

2001

With the acquisition of Saraburi Cement Company in Thailand, CEMEX reinforces its position in Asian markets.

2001

CEMEX initiates online customer service, enabling clients to place orders, purchase products, and access services electronically.

2002

By acquiring Puerto Rican Cement Company, CEMEX enhances its position in the Caribbean.

2002

CEMEX started its Ready Mix operations in Egypt.

2003

CEMEX launches its company-wide procurement process and global sourcing office for consolidated international negotiations.

2005

CEMEX doubles its size with the acquisition of RMC, adding 20 mainly European markets.

2006

More than 50,000 CEMEX employees celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary.

2007

CEMEX initiates the integration of Rinker.