HeidelbergCement partially adapts 2018 outlook

Today, HeidelbergCement has made a new assessment of the current business year based on preliminary numbers for the 3Q18. Sales volumes and revenue of the first nine months of 2018 developed within expectations and the guidance for the full year remains unchanged.

However, the outlook for 2018 is adapted to a low- to mid-single-digit percentage decline (previously: mid- to high-single digit percentage increase).

HeidelbergCement said in a statement that: "The reason for the adjustment is besides persistent adverse weather conditions in USA, among others and energy cost inflation, that significantly exceeded our expectations, and that could only partially be compensated by price increases over the course of the year. Consequently, the company now reckons that the ratio of net debt to RCOBD (leverage) at year-end will amount to more than the so far expected value of 2.5.

"Nevertheless, the company assumes that the group share of profit for the year 2018 will be in line with market expectations."

Final results for the third quarter and the first nine months 2018 will be published on 8 November, as previously scheduled.