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{{Short description|Mexican multinational building materials company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V.
| image = 
| logo = Cemex_logo_2023.png
| logo_size = 250px
| type = [[S.A. (corporation)|Sociedad Anónima Bursátil de Capital Variable]]
| traded_as = {{BMV|CEMEX|5203}}<br />{{NYSE|CX}}<<br/> {{Pse|CHP}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1906|df=yes}}
| founder = Lorenzo Zambrano Gutierrez
| location = [[Monterrey]], [[Nuevo León]], [[Mexico]]
| industry = [[Building materials]]
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Rogelio Zambrano Lozano<br>{{small|(Executive Chairman)}}<br>Jaime Muguiro<br>{{small|(CEO)}}
| num_employees = 41,000+
| products = Cement, ready-mix concrete, and construction aggregates
| revenue = {{decrease}} US$ 13 billion <small>(2020)</small>
| net_income = {{decrease}} (US$ 1.47 billion) <small>(2020)</small>
| assets = {{decrease}} US$ 27.4 billion <small>(2020)</small>
| homepage = [http://www.cemex.com/ www.cemex.com]
}}
'''CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V.''', known as '''Cemex''', is a Mexican [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] building materials company headquartered in [[San Pedro Garza García|San Pedro]], near [[Monterrey]], [[Nuevo León]], [[Mexico]]. It manufactures and distributes [[cement]], [[ready-mix concrete]] and [[construction aggregate|aggregates]] in more than 50 countries. In 2020 it was ranked as the 5th largest cement company (by amount of cement produced annually) in the world, at 87.09 million tonnes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-11|title=Top 10 Cement Companies in the World 2020 {{!}} Global Cement Industry|url=https://blog.bizvibe.com/blog/top-10-cement-companies-world|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Bizvibe Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Lorenzo Zambrano]] was the chairman and [[chief executive officer]] until his death on May 12, 2014. The Board of Directors named Rogelio Zambrano Lozano as chairman, and Fernando A. Gonzalez as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mexico's Cemex names new CEO, board chairman|website=[[Associated Press]]|date=16 May 2014 |url=https://apnews.com/article/bceaa3e6dfa847db8022546473db14bd}}</ref>

About a quarter of the company's sales come from its Mexico operations, a third from its plants in the U.S., 30% from its operations in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and the rest from its other plants around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|url=https://sec.report/Document/0001193125-21-129260/#rom45023_11}}</ref>

[[File:Cemex.JPG|thumb|right|Cemex ready-mix truck departing jobsite after dispensing concrete for a multi-storey residential project in Villahermosa, Mexico]]
CEMEX currently operates on four continents, with 64 cement plants, 1,348 ready-mix-concrete facilities, 246 quarries, 269 distribution centers and 68 marine terminals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CEMEX Integrated Report|url=https://www.cemex.com/documents/20143/52528892/IntegratedReport2020.pdf/d7d4abda-2ddd-0809-8902-b09af5114bba|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326143954/https://www.cemex.com/documents/20143/52528892/IntegratedReport2020.pdf/d7d4abda-2ddd-0809-8902-b09af5114bba |archive-date=2021-03-26 }}</ref>

In the 2021 [[Forbes Global 2000]], Cemex was ranked as the 1178th -largest public company in the world with over US$13 billion in annual sales.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forbes Global 2000|website=[[Forbes]]|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/global2000/#592eb9cc5ac0|url-status=live|access-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513204015/https://www.forbes.com/lists/global2000/ |archive-date=2021-05-13 }}</ref>

The company's world [[headquarters]] are in San Pedro Garza García, a city that is part of the Monterrey metropolitan area in the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León.
<ref name="cemex.com">[http://www.cemex.com/ic/ic_faqs.asp Corporate World Headquarters - Company's website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220115713/http://www.cemex.com/ic/ic_faqs.asp |date=February 20, 2009 }} Retrieved February 10, 2009.</ref><ref name="Company 2009">[http://www.cemex.com/gl/gl_cu.asp Corporate Headquarters according to Company's Website world locations map] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207000920/http://www.cemex.com/gl/gl_cu.asp |date=February 7, 2009 }} Retrieved February 10, 2009.</ref><ref name="allbusiness.com">[http://www.allbusiness.com/business-planning-structures/business-structures/330911-1.html The headquarters remain in the bustling Mexican industrial city of ][[Monterrey, Mexico]], 140 miles south of the Texas border Retrieved February 10, 2009.</ref><ref name="linkedin.com">[http://www.linkedin.com/companies/cemex Cemex Corporate World Headquarters situated in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico, per Linkedin] Retrieved February 10, 2009.</ref>

==History==
CEMEX was founded with the opening of Cementos Hidalgo, in 1906. Meanwhile, Cementos Portland Monterrey began operations in 1920, and in 1931, the two companies merged, becoming Cementos Mexicanos, now CEMEX. In the 1960s, CEMEX grew significantly when it acquired several more plants throughout Mexico. In 1976, the company went public on the Mexican stock exchange, and that same year, became the largest cement producer in Mexico with the purchase of three plants from Cementos Guadalajara. In 1982, the company made significant progress in overseas markets, doubling its exports. Further acquisitions of Mexican cement companies were made in 1987 and 1989, making CEMEX one of the ten largest cement companies in the world.

In 2004, CEMEX received the [[Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award]] for their creative and efficient use of information technology.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.infosys.com/newsroom/press-releases/Pages/business-transformation-awards.aspx | title=Infosys - Newsroom &#124; Press Releases &#124; Business Transformation - Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Awards | access-date=2016-04-29 | archive-date=2016-06-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601013910/https://www.infosys.com/newsroom/press-releases/Pages/business-transformation-awards.aspx | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2005, CEMEX acquired [[RMC Group]], a [[Ready-mix concrete|ready mixed concrete]], [[Quarry|quarrying]] and concrete products company headquartered in [[Egham|Egham, United Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CEMEX completes acquisition of RMC |url=https://www.cemexusa.com/-/cemex-completes-acquisition-of-rmc}}</ref>

===Internationalization, 1990–2006===
In 1992, CEMEX began its push into the international landscape with the purchase of Spain's two largest cement companies, Valenciana de Cementos (Valcem, currently head of CEMEX Spain) and Cementos SANSON. [[Venezuela]]'s largest cement company, VENCEMOS, was acquired by CEMEX in 1994, and plants were purchased the same year in the United States and in [[Panama]]. In 1995 CEMEX acquired a cement company in the [[Dominican Republic]], and with the purchase of a majority stake in a Colombian cement company in 1996, CEMEX became the third largest cement company in the world. In 1997–1999, the company expanded its scope to include Asia and Africa, making major purchases in the [[Philippines]], [[Indonesia]] and [[Egypt]], as well as [[Costa Rica]]. The acquisition of U.S. based [[Southdown (corporation)|Southdown]] made CEMEX the largest cement company in North America, and further international purchases were made in the following two years—a [[Thailand|Thai]] company in 2001, and in 2002, a [[Ponce Cement, Inc.|Puerto Rican]] company.<ref>{{Cite news |issn=0458-3035 |agency=Reuters |title=Mexico's Cemex to Buy Southdown of Houston |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2016-03-28 |date=2000-09-30 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-sep-30-fi-29180-story.html}}</ref>

On March 1, 2005, CEMEX completed its $5.8 billion acquisition of the London-based [[RMC Group]], which made CEMEX the worldwide leader in ready-mix concrete production and increased its exposure to European markets. With the acquisition, the company expected its annual cement production to increase to 97 million tons. Also they had hoped to see its annual sales grow to $15 billion, just shy of the market leader, [[Lafarge (company)|Lafarge]] {{nyse|LR}}, which had sales of $17 billion. As none of these targets was met, CEMEX started looking for another suitor in its [[M&A]] push.

On October 27, 2006, CEMEX announced a US$12.8 billion offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of [[Rinker Group]], Limited.  Seven months later, on April 10, 2007, the Rinker board of directors approved an upgraded offer of [[USD]] 14.2 billion, and on June 7, 2007, CEMEX secured the commitment from the holders of more than 50% of the shares to complete the acquisition.

===Recent history (2006–)===
Shortly after the apparent finalization of the Rinker deal in 2007, the United States Department of Justice brought an antitrust lawsuit against CEMEX, blocking the acquisition. After a lengthy process, CEMEX complied with regulators by divesting (selling) 40+ cement and concrete plants formerly part of itself or Rinker, essentially devaluing the initial deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f243500/243560.htm|title = Second Modified Final Judgment|date = 25 June 2015}}</ref>

In April 2008, the President of [[Venezuela]], [[Hugo Chávez]], announced the nationalization of "the whole cement industry" in that country, in response to the belief that the industry was exporting its products in order to receive prices above those it was allowed within the country.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hugo-chavez-nationalizes-cement-industry/ Hugo Chavez Nationalizes Cement Industry], CBS News, April 4, 2008.</ref> In mid-2008 the Venezuelan government took over the Venezuelan operations of CEMEX, the largest Venezuelan producer with around a 50% market share; a deal on compensation was still to be reached in March 2009,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSTRE5243CX20090305 |title=FACTBOX: Venezuela's nationalizations under Hugo Chavez |date=March 5, 2009 |work=Reuters}}</ref> despite agreements being reached in mid-2008 with the other two major cement producers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/business/worldbusiness/19cement.html |work=The New York Times |title=Venezuela Is Set to Take Control of Cemex Plants |date=August 19, 2008 |access-date=April 28, 2010}}</ref> In December 2011, an agreement was reached, with Cemex receiving $600m in compensation, and benefiting from the cancellation of $154m in debt.<ref>Cemex, [http://www.cemex.com/MediaCenter/PressReleases/PressRelease20111201.aspx CEMEX and Venezuela sign agreement on compensation for nationalization of CEMEX Venezuela] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122123105/http://www.cemex.com/MediaCenter/PressReleases/PressRelease20111201.aspx |date=January 22, 2012}}</ref>

After having problems with the Mexican peso devaluation of 2008, including problems with derivatives,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0931861120081009 |work=Reuters |title=UPDATE 2-Mexico's Cemex tumbles on peso, derivatives |date=October 9, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fool.com/investing/international/2008/10/10/precarious-peso-pounds-cemex.aspx|title = Precarious Peso Pounds Cemex|date = 10 October 2008}}</ref> CEMEX had to rethink its international standings to decrease debt and avoid a default. In June 2009, CEMEX sold its Australian operations to [[Holcim]] for [[Australian dollar|A$]] 2.2 billion ([[US$]]1.75 billion) helping refinance its US$14 billion  debt, which partly was due to the acquisition, two years earlier, of the  [[Rinker Group]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Battersby |first=Lucy |title=Mexican sell-off puts Australian concrete operations in Swiss hands |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |url=http://www.businessday.com.au/business/mexican-selloff-puts-australian-concrete-operations-in-swiss-hands-20090615-caqg.html |access-date=2009-07-07}}</ref>

In December 2010, DOL Resolves Employee Back Wage Case With CEMEX – The U.S. Department of Labor announced the filing of a consent judgment in a case against CEMEX Inc. and the recovery of $1,514,449 in overtime back wages for 1,705 current and former ready-mix drivers who worked in eight states.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nessaccess.com/news_2010/dol_resolves_employee_back_wage_case_with_cemex.html|title=DOL Resolves Employee Back Wage Case With CEMEX|website=nessaccess.com|access-date=2016-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045048/http://nessaccess.com/news_2010/dol_resolves_employee_back_wage_case_with_cemex.html|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In 2016, Cemex sold its Rinker Materials pipe business to Quikrete.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.powderbulksolids.com/wire-cloth/cemex-selling-us-reinforced-concrete-pipe-unit-500m | title=CEMEX Selling U.S. Reinforced Concrete Pipe Unit for $500M | date=29 November 2016 }}</ref>

In February 2018, the company reported record earnings of $750 million for all of 2016, the highest in a decade. Lowering company debt after recent acquisitions were a main cause of the company's financial performance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/cemex-jumps-on-record-earnings-1486672741|title=Cemex Jumps On Record Earnings|last=DeFotis |first=Dimitra|access-date=2018-03-02|language=en-US}}</ref> In the second-quarter 2021 CEMEX reported a net profit of US$270 million and a Debt-to-Ebitda 2.85 leverage ratio, within investment-grade range.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-29|title=UPDATE 3-Mexican cement maker Cemex profit boosted to $270 million in construction rebound|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/cemex-results-idUSL4N2P52FK|access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref>

In July 2022, Cemex acquired majority stake in ProStein, a German aggregates producer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-11 |title=Mexico's Cemex acquires majority stake in German aggregates producer |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/mexicos-cemex-acquires-majority-stake-german-aggregates-producer-2022-07-11/ |access-date=2022-07-15}}</ref>

In 2023, the U.S. [[National Labor Relations Board]] affirmed findings that Cemex had committed over two dozen [[Unfair labor practice|unfair labor practices]] leading up to a 2019 [[Trade union|union]] election. The board used this case to set a new policy that an employer who interferes with an election will be compelled to recognize the union without an election, where previously a new election would be ordered.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wiessner |first=Daniel |date=2023-08-25 |title=NLRB paves way for workers to unionize without formal elections |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/nlrb-paves-way-workers-unionize-without-formal-elections-2023-08-25/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Unions Score Big Win as NLRB Eases Path to Representation (3) |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/unions-score-big-win-as-labor-board-resurrects-joy-silk-doctrine |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=news.bloomberglaw.com |date=25 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The case marked a significant new policy which partly revived the [[Joy Silk]] doctrine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board Issues Decision Announcing New Framework for Union Representation Proceedings {{!}} National Labor Relations Board |url=https://www.nlrb.gov/news-outreach/news-story/board-issues-decision-announcing-new-framework-for-union-representation |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=www.nlrb.gov |language=en}}</ref>

==CEMEX worldwide==
[[File:CemexHouston.jpg|thumb|Cemex United States offices in [[Memorial City, Houston|Memorial City]], [[Houston]]]]
CEMEX World Corporate Headquarters is in [[Monterrey|Monterrey, Mexico]]<ref name="cemex.com" /> and its U.S. operations headquarters is in [[Memorial City, Houston]], [[Texas]].<ref name="Company 2009" /><ref name="allbusiness.com"/><ref name="linkedin.com"/>

The company operates in over 30 countries/territories around the world including:

{| 
|
*{{Flag|Argentina}}
*{{Flag|Bahamas}}
*{{Flag|Brazil}}
*{{Flag|Colombia}}
*{{Flag|Costa Rica}}
*{{Flag|Croatia}}
*{{Flag|Czech Republic}}
*{{Flag|Dominican Republic}}
*{{Flag|Egypt}}
*{{Flag|El Salvador}}
*{{Flag|France}}
*{{Flag|Germany}}
|valign=top|
*{{Flag|Haiti}}
*{{Flag|Hungary}}
*{{Flag|Ireland}}
*{{Flag|Israel}}
*{{Flag|Jamaica}}
*{{Flag|Latvia}}
*{{Flag|Mexico}}
*{{Flag|Nicaragua}}
*{{Flag|Nigeria}}
*{{Flag|Norway}}
*{{Flag|Panama}}
|valign=top|
*{{Flag|Peru}}
*{{Flag|Philippines}}
*{{Flag|Poland}}
*{{Flag|Puerto Rico}}
*{{Flag|Spain}}
*{{Flag|Sweden}}
*{{Flag|Switzerland}}
*{{Flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}
*{{Flag|United Arab Emirates}}
*{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
*{{Flag|United States}}
|}

== Subsidiaries ==
[[File:Cement_mixer_Renault_Kerax-Liebherr.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cement mixer.]]
*Cemento Ponce General (See [[Ponce Cement, Inc.]]) – [[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]], [[Puerto Rico]]
*[[Puerto Rican Cement Company]] – [[Guaynabo]], [[Puerto Rico]]
*Compania Valencia de Cementos Portland S.A. – [[Madrid]], Spain
*[[CEMEX Asia Holdings Ltd.]] – Philippines
*[[CxNetworks]] – [[Miami]], [[Florida]], United States
*CEMEX USA – [[Houston]], [[Texas]], United States
**[[Western Rail Road]] – [[New Braunfels, Texas]], United States
**[[Mojave Northern Railroad]]
*CEMEX UK Limited – [[Rugby, Warwickshire]], United Kingdom
*[[New Sunward Holding]] – [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands
* CEMEX Mexico – [[Monterrey]], [[Nuevo Leon]], Mexico
* Ready Mix USA – [[Birmingham, Alabama]]
* Caribbean Cement Company Limited – [[Kingston, Jamaica]]
* Trinidad Cement Limited – [[Trinidad]]
* Island Cement Company Limited – [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau, The Bahamas]]
* Bahamas Concrete Holdings – [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau, The Bahamas]]

==Social responsibility==
CEMEX has developed a number of educational and social responsibility initiatives. For example, it instituted the [[Premio CEMEX]], an annual award that recognizes works in the fields of sustainability, accessibility, construction and architecture. Also, it funds the [[Catedra Blanca]], and honors architecture courses in three universities: the [[ITESM]], in Monterrey, the [[Universidad Iberoamericana]], in Mexico City, and the Barcelona School of Architecture. Also, CEMEX has created the Centro CEMEX-Tecnológico de Monterrey, which is a research and development program for sustainable communities across Mexico thru the Premio CEMEX-TEC.

In 2007, the [[Organization of American States]] (OAS), through their Trust for the Americas, awarded the company The Corporate Citizen of the Americas Award 2007, for the social benefits of their program "Patrimonio Hoy", in Mexico, that according to [[José Miguel Insulza]], President of the OAS, has a positive effect in low-income families.  This initiative, conceived in 1998, aims to reduce the Mexican housing deficit, which leaves more than 20 million people with inadequate shelter. Patrimonio Hoy organizes low-income families into self-financing cells that facilitate and expedite the typical homebuilding process. CEMEX and its network provide the products needed but also the technical assistance, including an architect who helps design homes to optimize space and reduce waste. To date, more than 150,000 Mexican families have realized their dreams of home ownership <ref>[http://www.elnorte.com/negocios/articulo/750543/ Recibe Cemex reconocimiento], by ''[[El Norte (Monterrey)|El Norte]]'', in Spanish, requires subscription (original text: "Cemex México recibió el reconocimiento internacional por los beneficios sociales de su programa Patrimonio Hoy, durante la entrega de "The Corporate Citizen of the Americas Award 2007" que organiza The Trust for the Americas y la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA). El secretario general del organismo interamericano, José Miguel Insulza, destacó que conoce el programa Patrimonio Hoy y sabe de su positivo impacto social en favor de familias de escasos recursos."</ref>

As of 2020, CEMEX Social Responsibility initiatives had benefited over 23 million people in its neighboring communities world-wide. The company also restated its Social Impact policy, with the goal of benefiting 30 million people by 2030. Fortune Magazine ranked CEMEX in 39th place in its 2020 Change the World Index.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Change the World|url=https://fortune.com/change-the-world/2020/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Fortune|language=en}}</ref>

==Environmental record==
CEMEX has been accused of violating environmental laws in the United States. Environmental watchdog groups and the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] are threatening to file suit claiming the company has committed numerous violations of the Clean Air Act in [[Lyons, Colorado]].<ref>[http://www.ourcleanair.org/cemex cemex<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230017/http://www.ourcleanair.org/cemex |date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> CEMEX divested its operation in Lyons, Colorado, in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|title=CEMEX sells $400 million in U.S. Assets to Chihuahua Cement|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=2 May 2016|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-02/cemex-to-sell-u-s-assets-to-chihuahua-company-for-400-million}}</ref> The United States Environmental Protection Agency has also filed suit against CEMEX in [[Victorville, California]], claiming the company failed to install modern air pollution controls, despite spending millions in renovations.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/EPA+SUES+CEMEX+OVER+AIR+QUALITY+VICTORVILLE+PLANT+CONTROLS+CITED-a0160015676 Epa Sues Cemex Over Air Quality Victorville Plant Controls Cited. - Free Online Library<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The case was settled in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|last=US EPA|first=OECA|date=2013-05-09|title=Cemex California Cement Clean Air Act Settlement|url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/cemex-california-cement-clean-air-act-settlement|access-date=2021-07-30|website=[[United States Environmental Protection Agency]]|language=en}}</ref> In February 2021 the U.S. Department of Energy awarded funding for research on carbon-capture at the CEMEX Victorville cement plant.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-11|title=RTI International Awarded $5 Million to Develop Pioneering Carbon Capture Technology|url=https://www.rti.org/announcements/rti-international-awarded-5-million-develop-pioneering-carbon-capture-technology|access-date=2021-07-30|website=RTI|language=en}}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, CEMEX was originally fined £400,000 in October 2006 after hazardous dust was deposited up to three miles (5&nbsp;km) away from its [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]] works. The fine was the highest ever given under the [[Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control]] regulations, and was also the highest for an [[Environment Agency]] prosecution for six years.<ref>[[ENDS Report]] 381, October 2006, pp 4-5</ref> The fine was, however, judged excessive by the Court of Appeal and so reduced to £50,000.<ref>[[ENDS Report]] 391, August 2007</ref> In April 2007, CEMEX announced that it had installed a £6.5 million dust abatement system at the same works in Rugby, which had cut particulate emissions by 80%. The site comes under the auspices of the EU Waste Incineration Directive as it burns waste tires for fuel. There are concerns over the impact on both the environment and human health from this practice, although it is common practice in many cement works.<ref>[[ENDS Report]] 388, May 2007, p 29</ref> In 2021 CEMEX announced investments in Europe to promote an environmentally-friendly “[[circular economy]],” safely using waste as a substitute for fossil fuels, including in its Rugby plant.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-22|title=CEMEX starts operations of seven sustainable growth investments in Europe|url=https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/22022021/cemex-starts-operations-of-seven-sustainable-growth-investments-in-europe/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=World Cement|language=en}}</ref>

During tests conducted from June 10 to August 5, 2008, the Monterey Bay (California) Unified Air Pollution Control District reported high levels of [[chromium VI]], also known as hexavalent chromium, a cancer causing chemical agent, at an elementary school and fire department in [[Davenport, California]]. Chromium VI is the contaminant that inspired the movie, ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]''. The toxic substance apparently originated from dust emitted by the Cemex Cement plant in Davenport, as the levels of Chromium VI measured eight times the air district's acceptable level at Pacific Elementary School and 10 times at the Davenport Fire Department. Both are located less than a half-mile from CEMEX.<ref>Source: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_10630621 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207120130/http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_10630621 |date=2008-12-07 }}</ref> Chromium VI may have been unwittingly produced at the CEMEX plant in Davenport for the last seven years. According to Ed Kendig, the executive director of the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, it's "highly possible" that Chromium VI continues to be produced across the country as an accidental, previously unknown byproduct of the cement-making process.<ref name="metrosantacruz.com">Source: http://www.metrosantacruz.com/metro-santa-cruz/10.15.08/nuz-0842.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109072322/http://www.metrosantacruz.com/metro-santa-cruz/10.15.08/nuz-0842.html |date=2008-11-09 }}</ref>

In 2007, the EPA filed a complaint against CEMEX for violating federal air regulations at its Victorville plant, and in 2006, CEMEX was cited for violations at plants in Santa Barbara and Michigan.<ref name="metrosantacruz.com" />

Cemex had a sand mining operation in the city of [[Marina, California]], along the [[Monterey Bay]] coastline that concerned environmentalists and scientists. The [[California Coastal Commission]] in March 2016 issued a cease and desist order asking for "administration civil penalties", stating that "the operation is narrowing beaches and impacting environmentally sensitive habitat." Cemex denied the allegations and continued to operate.<ref name="ABC 7">{{cite news|last1=Olney|first1=Jennifer|title=MEXICAN CORPORATION ACCUSED OF DAMAGING MONTEREY BAY COAST|date=9 May 2017|url=http://abc7news.com/business/mexican-corp-accused-of-damaging-monterey-bay-coast/1969078/|work=ABC 7|access-date=10 May 2017}}</ref>  A settlement was reached in 2017 and CEMEX ended mining in December 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shalev|first=Asaf|title=Sand mining at the Cemex plant in Marina ends ahead of deadline.|url=https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/local_news/sand-mining-at-the-cemex-plant-in-marina-ends-ahead-of-deadline/article_05c85f08-34fe-11eb-a622-57584938c36e.html|access-date=2021-07-30|work=Monterey County Weekly|language=en}}</ref>

In 2020 CEMEX announced a new climate action strategy, aiming to lower its overall carbon footprint by 35% in 2030 compared to a 1990 baseline, and to deliver [[Carbon neutrality|net zero]] concrete by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cemex targets net-zero concrete by 2050|url=https://www.edie.net/news/6/Cemex-targets-net-zero-concrete-by-2050/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=edie.net|language=en}}</ref> In May 2021 CEMEX partnered with British oil company [[BP]] to research industry-wide [[low-carbon economy|decarbonization]] of cement production.<ref>{{Cite web|title=bp and CEMEX team up on net zero emissions {{!}} News and insights {{!}} Home|url=https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/press-releases/bp-and-cemex-team-up-on-net-zero-emissions.html|access-date=2021-07-30|website=bp global|language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, [[Oishi (Philippine brand)]] and CEMEX Asia Holdings Ltd. (Philippines) [[Partnership|partnered]] to support [[Plastic recycling|sustainable disposal of plastic waste]] per commitment to [[environmental stewardship]] and [[circular economy]] principles in industrial operations. “Our partnership with Liwayway allows us to support them with the [[Extended producer responsibility|EPR]] law (Extended Producer Responsibility Act EPRA of 2022 Republic Act No. 11898), while it also contributes to our Future in Action agenda of becoming a net zero [[Greenhouse gas emissions|carbon emission]] company,” said Luis Franco, Cemex CEO. Liwayway will channel plastic packaging waste to Cemex's Solid Cement plant for co-processing.<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Cemex, Liwayway partner for sustainable plastic waste management|url= https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/12/public-square/cemex-liwayway-partner-for-sustainable-plastic-waste-management/1936630|accessdate=March 13, 2024 |publisher= [[The Manila Times]] |date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>

==Competitors==
Main CEMEX competitors / global cement players are:<ref>[http://www.philippelasserre.net/contenu/Download/Global_Cement_industry.pdf The Global Cement Industry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309233945/http://www.philippelasserre.net/contenu/Download/Global_Cement_industry.pdf |date=2012-03-09 }}, Global Strategic Management Mini Cases Series, Philippe Lasserre- Globalisation Cement Industry, 2007</ref> 
* [[Holcim]]
*[[HeidelbergCement]]
* [[Votorantim Cimentos]]
* [[Unibeton Ready Mix]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Mexico|Companies}}
*[[List of companies traded on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores]]
*[[List of companies of Mexico|List of Mexican companies]]
*[[Economy of Mexico]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website}}
*{{OpenCorp}}
{{commons}}
{{coord|25|39|04|N|100|21|05|W|region:MX_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{IPC companies}}
{{S&P Latin America 40}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cement companies]]
[[Category:Cement companies of Mexico]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Monterrey]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1906]]
[[Category:Mexican brands]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Mexico]]
[[Category:Mexican companies established in 1906]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Colombia Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies in the Indice de Precios y Cotizaciones]]
[[Category:Companies in the S&P Latin America 40]]