CEMEX USA Begins Meeting Cement Demand Abroad

HOUSTON -July 31, 2008- CEMEX Inc., the nation's largest cement and ready-mix company, announced today that it has loaded the first vessel to begin exporting cement from its Tampa cement terminal. The strategic move to turn its Tampa facility from an import operation into a cement export operation indicates the demand abroad for CEMEX USA's high quality cement.

"This is an illustration of our ability to leverage the global CEMEX network to maximize our assets in the United States," said Gilberto Perez, President of CEMEX USA. "We are pioneering the exporting of cement from a once-import only market."

Due to the housing slowdown in Florida, CEMEX's strategic move to convert its Tampa facility into an export terminal will help reposition domestic capacity to meet the demands abroad. CEMEX is the first cement company to begin exporting cement in large quantities from Florida.

The CEMEX Tampa facility will be able to export more than 165,000 short tons per year, primarily to the Caribbean. Most of the cement is produced locally at one of CEMEX´s Brooksville cement manufacturing facilities. In order to fulfill the demand, CEMEX will be using a dedicated vessel solely transporting cement from the Tampa terminal to the Caribbean every 10 days.

On June 9, 2008, CEMEX received the necessary permits from the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County to operate the Tampa terminal as an export facility.

CEMEX is a growing global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The company has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions and efficiency advancements and to promote a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cemexusa.com

Jennifer Borgen, Director, External Communications
713-650-6200