Dyckerhoff improves cement profits in Russia and the USA       

Preliminary figures from the Buzzi Unicem subsidiary Dyckerhoff show turnover edging ahead by 0.2 per cent to €1603m in 2012. Of this, 37 per cent was generated in Germany, 39 per cent in Eastern Europe and Russia, 11 per cent in the Benelux and 13 per cent in the United States.

Group cement deliveries were 2.4 per cent lower at 15.53m tonnes, while ready-mixed concrete volumes were 7.3 per cent lower at 7.32Mm³. With the exception of the Ukraine, all markets where Dyckerhoff sells ready-mixed concrete reported lower volumes. Aggregates deliveries declined further and were 8.9 per cent lower at 5.02m tonnes. Capital expenditure in the year increased by 13.8 per cent, after some years of decline, to €99m, while the number of employees at the year-end edged ahead by 0.3 per cent to 6,808.

Turnover in cement increased in Germany, the Ukraine, Russia and the United States, but declined in Poland and in Luxembourg while being broadly stable in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. With the exception of the Ukraine, prices for ready-mixed concrete declined.

Western European turnover declined by 7.2 per cent to €769m, of which Germany accounted for €575m, but the East European region saw turnover advance by 4.2 per cent to €623m. The turnover contribution from the United States associate rose by 21.1 per cent to €212m. The full year results are to be announced on 26 March and should show a broadly stable EBITDA, but levels of profitability further down the line.