Reference no: EM133037377

HBR: The Globalization of Cemex

This case describes the global expansion of CEMEX, a Mexican cement manufacturer.  The evolution of a modest Mexican cement manufacturer into a global leader in the industry is a tremendous success story.  The purpose of the case is to unpack how CEMEX has been able to expand its global presence with such remarkable success.  While other firms often compromise profits for growth, CEMEX has not had to make this trade-off.  The information in the case provides for a rich analysis of how CEMEX has managed to modify the industry landscape while also improving their internal capabilities and resources. 

Discussion Questions

1. What are the benefits that CEMEX has derived by expanding across national boundaries? More broadly, how can cross-border activities add value in an industry as apparently localized as cement?
2. How has CEMEX managed to outperform its leading international competitors in the cement industry? 
3. What accounts for the sequence in which CEMEX entered foreign markets?  How do the markets its has entered recently compare with the markets that it entered early on?  How far will competitive advantage travel-India, Brazil, Portugal/China?
4. Do the mega-mergers of the international cement majors make sense?