PPC advised that following better than expected trading conditions, its earnings EPS and HEPS for the year ended September 2011 are expected to be between 21% and 24% lower.

Competition in southern Africa’s cement market is heating up even as sales remain distinctly cool in the face of renewed global financial turmoil.

Rebound in smaller infrastructure projects much less lucrative than works for the Soccer World Cup sees PPC declare an interim dividend of 35c for the half-year

PPC has advised that its earnings per share and headline earnings per share for the 6 months ended March 2011 are expected to be between 35% and 40% lower.

The government’s poor investment in infrastructure is hurting the construction sector, and analysts warn that further delays in spending will frustrate job creation across the economy.

PPC says it will withdraw an environmental application for its Western Cape capacity expansion programme in light of low cement demand and poor economic conditions.

PPC CEO Paul Stuiver says that the group is concerned about the outlook for cement demand in the second half amid an uncertain economic recovery.

PPC has reported diluted headline earnings per share of 114.3c for the 6 months ended march 2010 from 20.3c a year ago.

PPC has advised that the caution is no longer required to be exercised by shareholders when dealing in its securities.

PPC expects regional demand to pick up, but more expensive fuel and electricity will affect input costs.