Slag cement producer Ecocem Materials Ltd reported a rise in turnover of 9.4 per cent in 2017 to EUR79.4m (US$90.5m) from EUR72.6m in the previous year. Pretax profit decreased by 37.5 per cent to EUR2.5m last year from EUR4m in 2016.

Costs increased by nearly 12 per cent YoY to EUR76.5m from EUR68.6m while the company paid EUR335,000 in interest, a sharp rise when compared with EUR147,821m paid the previous year.

Earlier this year the company opened a new plant in Dunkerque, northwestern France. In addition, the company opened a second import terminal in the UK.