Pretoria Portland Cement says it is shifting from business recovery to long-term growth, with renewable energy investments, capacity expansion and operational efficiency forming the cornerstone of its strategy for the 2027 financial year.
In its annual report for the year ended March 31, 2026, the cement producer said the successful execution of its "Awaken the Giant" turnaround strategy had strengthened its financial position and enabled the group to focus on future growth initiatives.
"Looking ahead to FY27, PPC is transitioning from rebuilding its foundations to embedding turnaround execution and operational discipline," the company said.
A key priority is completing the R3.1 billion RK3 integrated cement plant in South Africa's Western Cape, which remains on budget and is expected to be commissioned in the final quarter of FY27.
According to PPC, the new plant will improve energy efficiency, lower emissions and enhance the company's cost competitiveness.
The group is also accelerating its renewable energy programme as part of efforts to reduce operating costs and strengthen energy security.
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"Management's future outlook prioritises margin expansion, disciplined capital allocation, and the advancement of renewable energy projects," the report said.
PPC plans to develop a 20MW solar wheeling project in South Africa alongside a 30MW solar programme in Zimbabwe, building on the successful commissioning of two 10MW embedded solar plants at its Dwaalboom and Slurry operations during the year.
The company said it will also focus on optimising logistics, simplifying customer engagement and embedding a high-performance culture to improve profitability.
"By optimising logistics, simplifying customer engagement, and embedding a high-performance culture, PPC aims to expand profit margins beyond the cost of capital and position the business to capitalise on regional infrastructure recovery."
Zimbabwe remains one of PPC's strongest growth markets after cement sales volumes increased 18.2% during the year, driven by robust local demand. The strong performance enabled PPC Zimbabwe to declare a record R490 million (US$36 million) dividend to the group.
Group revenue rose 3.9% to R10.3 billion, while EBITDA increased 31% to R2.1 billion, reflecting improved operational efficiencies and a lower cost base. Headline earnings per share climbed 25% to 50 cents, prompting the board to increase the dividend by 72% to 30.2 cents per share.
Despite the positive outlook, PPC said it continues to monitor risks including increasing competition from imported cement, electricity supply constraints, logistics challenges and regulatory compliance.
The company said its strategy remains focused on disciplined capital allocation, sustainability and operational excellence to position the business for the next phase of regional infrastructure-led growth.
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