CEMEX Demonstrates Significant Progress in its Sustainability Commitments Including a 15.8% Reduction in Carbon Emissions

MONTERREY, Mexico--(Business Wire)--
CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) today announced that it continues to make
substantial progress toward its goals as a sustainable building materials
company with the achievement of three of its sustainability targets ahead of
schedule, as well as with significant reductions in its carbon emissions.

At the end of 2008, CEMEX had reduced specific net carbon dioxide emissions in
its cement operations by 15.8% from the Company`s 1990 baseline and remains on
track to meet its target of reducing CO2 emissions per ton of cement by 25% by
2015. CEMEX`s strategy for reducing carbon emissions has four main elements:
reducing overall energy use, increasing the use of alternative raw materials,
increasing the use of alternative fuels such as biomass, and investing in
renewable energy. CEMEX has taken several steps in order to reduce its
environmental footprint, and the achievements listed below highlight the
progress the Company has made in its efforts to increase its competitiveness
while reducing the impacts of its operations.

Sustainability targets met by the Company ahead of schedule:

* Achieved the 2010 lost-time injuries milestone set in 2006 two years early, as
a result a new milestone was set for 2010 on the path to zero accidents..
* Surpassed the 2015 alternative materials rate goal; work continues to meet the
2020 target.
* Met the 2015 target for reducing Sulfur Oxide (SOx) air emissions, and made
substantial progress on reducing both dust and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions.

Environmental and Carbon Reduction Achievements:

* In 2008, alternative fuels accounted for 10.3% of CEMEX`s total fuel use, an
increment of 35% in relation to 2007, demonstrating good progress toward the
Company`s target of 15% by 2015.
* CEMEX registered two biomass projects with the United Nations Clean
Development Mechanism (CDM), at the Caracolito cement plant in Colombia and
Colorado cement plant in Costa Rica. The projects are expected to reduce direct
CO2 emissions by over 120,000 tons per year.
* CEMEX continuously seeks new renewable energy sources such as wind power to
supplement energy reduction measures and the use of alternative fuels. The first
phase of a new, 250 megawatt wind farm in Oaxaca, Mexico, was commissioned in
March and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2009. This farm will
be the largest wind power generator in Latin American and will supply 25% of
CEMEX`s power requirements in Mexico.

"CEMEX has a long term record of commitment when it comes to environmental and
social issues and we are proud of the meaningful advances we have made in our
efforts to achieve our sustainability goals," said Lorenzo Zambrano, CEMEX
Chairman and CEO. "We firmly believe that the integration of sustainability
practices into the day-to-day management of our business is critical to our
long-term success and allows us to attract and develop our employee base while
contributing positively to the communities in which we operate."

CEMEX`s sustainability goals and progress are outlined in the Company`s 2008
Sustainable Development Report. Since 1997, a full report is published every two
years and an interim one in the intervening years, providing an overview of the
company`s strategy and annual performance on areas such as environmental
performance, community engagement, and employee health and safety. The latest
report is aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Sustainability
Reporting Guidelines, the most widely used and credible framework globally, and
it is the Company`s first to achieve a GRI-checked A+, the highest possible
level, demonstrating CEMEX`s commitment to transparency.

The report includes a number of firsts: a public policy section; an assurance
statement on CO2 emissions and safety indicators by PricewaterhouseCoopers; a
greater amount of company-wide data; as well as the establishment of a
Sustainability Advisory Panel of experts. Other highlights include the
biodiversity mapping of all quarry sites globally in collaboration with BirdLife
International, as well as expanded coverage of Patrimonio Hoy, a micro credit
and advice scheme developed and managed by CEMEX that has helped over 224,000
low income families in Latin America construct additional rooms to their homes.

The full 2008 Sustainable Development Report, along with PricewaterhouseCoopers
independent assurance statement, is available online in the Sustainability
section of cemex.com at http://www.cemex.com/sustainability/reports. More
information on the GRI available at www.globalreporting.org.

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products
and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries
throughout the world. CEMEX 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.cemex.com.

CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V.
SVP Sustainability
Tony Henshaw, (52-81) 8305-1622
or
Media Relations
Jorge Pérez, (52-81) 8888-4334
or
Investor Relations
Eduardo Rendón, (52-81) 8888-4256
or
Analyst Relations
Luis Garza, (52-81) 8888-4136

Copyright Business Wire 2009