In September 2015, the inception of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) presented SCCC with an opportunity for regional business growth. The Company took steps to expand into overseas markets at this time. A joint venture was created to build a cement plant in the Kingdom of Cambodia under the name of Chip Mong INSEE Cement Corporation. SCCC held a 40 percent stake in this joint venture, with the remaining 60 percent held by Chip Mong Group Company Limited and three family members. Chip Mong INSEE Cement Corporation was officially established in December 2015. This cement plant, which was the most modern facility in the Kingdom of Cambodia upon opening, has a dry process cement kiln with an annual production capacity of 1.5 million tons.
At the end of 2015, SCCC was awarded six awards in three categories at the Thailand and ASEAN energy awards. These included victories in the Special Submission, Off-Grid-Thermal, and Tropical Building categories. Such awards are a source of pride for the Company and encourage organizations of both state and private sectors to understand the importance of efficient energy usage as well as to elevate Thai energy in order to reach international standards.
In 2016, opportunities arose in the acquisition market. During this time, the Company acquired CEMEX (Thailand), CEMEX (Bangladesh) and Holcim (Lanka). Meanwhile, SCCC bought some assets in Valence Corporation Limited (Thailand), and specific interests were tabled for the possible acquisition of Holcim (Vietnam). Additionally, the Company disposed of all investment in Holcim Cement (Bangladesh) Co., Ltd. to Holderfin B.V. in November 2016 for USD16.92 million or equivalent to approximately 590.1 million baht.
The transfer of 65 percent of the total charter capital of Holcim (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. from LafargeHolcim Limited was completed on 28 February 2017. On 23 March 2017, the Company established a new subsidiary, Siam City Cement Trading Co., Ltd., to operate trading and import and export business.
Shortly thereafter, the Company increased its registered capital to 298 billion baht as part of a resolution at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 31 March 2017. In 2018, SCCC continued to develop and expand the products of its subsidiaries to serve local market demand. Examples of this include the expansion of INSEE Superblock’s wall-panel solution business as well as INSEE Ecocycle’s growth of industrial cleaning services and Municipal Solid Waste/Refused Derive Fuel management (MSW/RDF).
Currently, the Company is determined to grow its business portfolio and revenue base by expanding businesses and establishing local and foreign subsidiaries and joint venture companies throughout Southeast Asia and South Asia. These subsidiaries and associated companies are working hard to develop products and services related to the Company’s core business encompassing operations involving many types of construction products and fiber-cement decorative materials for architecture, both domestically and abroad. Meanwhile, peripheral businesses, such as waste management, industrial cleaning services and international seaborne trade, continue to add value.