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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
_______________________
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Date of Report: December 22, 2003
CEMEX, S.A. de C.V.
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
CEMEX Corp.
___________________
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
United Mexican States
______________________
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Av. Ricardo Margain Zozaya #325, Colonia del Valle Campestre
Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico 64000
______________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F _____
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes _____ No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
N/A
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CONTENTS
1. Press release issued by CEMEX, S.A. de C.V., dated December 18,
2003, providing guidance with respect to its projected earnings for
the fourth quarter of 2003 (attached hereto as exhibit 1).
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CEMEX, S.A. de C.V.
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(Registrant)
Date: December 22, 2003 By: /s/ Rafael Garza
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Name: Rafael Garza
Title: Chief Comptroller
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
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1 Press release issued by CEMEX, S.A. de C.V., dated December
18, 2003, providing guidance with respect to its projected
earnings for the fourth quarter of 2003.
EXHIBIT 1
MEDIA RELATIONS INVESTOR RELATIONS ANALYST RELATIONS
JORGE PEREZ ABRAHAM RODRIGUEZ RICARDO SALES
(52 81) 8888-4334 (52 81) 8888-4262 (212) 317-6008
[Graphic omitted]
CEMEX PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR
THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2003
MONTERREY, MEXICO, December 18, 2003 - CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) announced
today that it expects EBITDA for the quarter ending December 31, 2003 in excess
of US$500 million, an increase of 20% versus the year earlier period, while
operating income is expected to exceed US$340 million. EBITDA for the full year
2003 is expected to exceed US$2.07 billion. The increase in EBITDA and
operating income is due in part to lower operating costs and administrative
expenses achieved as a result of recent investments and expense containment
efforts.
For the fourth quarter, CEMEX expects to achieve revenue of more than US$1.7
billion, translating into full year revenue in excess of US$7.0 billion. Free
cash flow for the quarter is expected to exceed US$210 million, while for the
full year 2003, free cash flow is expected in excess of US$1.08 billion.
The ratio of net debt to EBITDA at the end of the year is expected to be about
2.7 times, while the ratio of EBITDA to financial expenses (including preferred
dividends) is estimated to exceed 5.2 times.
Rodrigo Trevino, Chief Financial Officer, said: "We are pleased with our
performance for the quarter and the full year, as we expect to exceed our
original guidance in both EBITDA and free cash flow for the year, and achieve
our targeted capital structure ratios ahead of schedule. These results
benefited from our continued cost containment efforts undertaken during the
year, which have significantly contributed to our operating performance. Going
forward, we maintain our preference for applying our free cash flow to reduce
net debt to further strengthen our balance sheet, providing us with greater
financial flexibility until accretive investment opportunities arise".
For the fourth quarter, CEMEX Mexico's domestic gray cement volume is expected
to remain flat versus the same quarter a year ago and is expected to be 3%
higher for the full year 2003 versus 2002. Demand from the public works and
social housing sectors remains at a high level, while the self construction
sector continues to provide moderate growth.
Cement sales volumes for CEMEX's operations in the United States are expected
to increase 11% in the fourth quarter versus the same quarter of last year. The
acquisition of the Dixon-Marquette Cement plant, which began to be consolidated
as of this fourth quarter of 2003, is estimated to account for about 4
percentage points of the 11% increase expected for the quarter. Full year 2003
cement volumes are expected to increase 2% versus 2002, including volumes from
the Dixon-Marquette Cement plant. The public works and residential sectors
continue to be the main drivers of demand, while the industrial and commercial
sector, which exhibited a downward trend during the first half of the year, has
now stabilized compared to last year.
Cement sales volumes for CEMEX's operations in Spain are expected to grow by
about 4% versus the fourth quarter of last year and 4% for full year 2003
compared to 2002. The main drivers of cement demand continue to be a strong
residential sector, fueled by a favorable interest rate environment, and a
healthy public sector.
Guidance numbers are calculated on the basis of market close exchange rates as
of December 18, 2003.
CEMEX is a leading global producer and marketer of cement and ready-mix
products, with operations primarily concentrated in the world's most dynamic
cement markets across four continents. CEMEX combines a deep knowledge of the
local markets with its global network and information technology systems to
provide world-class products and services to its customers, from individual
homebuilders to large industrial contractors. For more information, visit
www.cemex.com.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are
necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of CEMEX to be materially
different from those expressed or implied in this release, including, among
others, changes in general economic, political, governmental and business
conditions globally and in the countries in which CEMEX does business, changes
in interest rates, changes in inflation rates, changes in exchange rates, the
level of construction generally, changes in cement demand and prices, changes
in raw material and energy prices, changes in business strategy and various
other factors. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize,
or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary
materially from those described herein. CEMEX assumes no obligation to update
or correct the information contained in this press release.
EBITDA is defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization. Free
Cash Flow is defined as EBITDA minus net interest expense, capital
expenditures, change in working capital, taxes paid, dividends on preferred
equity and other cash items. Net debt is defined as total debt plus equity
obligations minus cash and cash equivalents. All of the above items are
presented under generally accepted accounting principles in Mexico. EBITDA and
Free Cash Flow (as defined above) are presented herein because CEMEX believes
that they are widely accepted as financial indicators of CEMEX's ability to
internally fund capital expenditures and service or incur debt. EBITDA and Free
Cash Flow should not be considered as indicators of CEMEX's financial
performance, as alternatives to cash flow, as measures of liquidity or as being
comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.