Vicat gets more American sales, north and south

Vicat's turnover for the first nine months of 2019 improved by 5.7 per cent to EUR2059m, which represents an underlying reduction of 0.7 per cent. Cement deliveries declined by 4.4 per cent to 16.66Mt. The aggregates and concrete turnover improved by 9.3 per cent to EUR819m with shipments of aggregates edging ahead by 0.3 per cent to 17.21Mt and deliveries of ready-mixed concrete declined by 2.4 per cent to 6.76Mm³. The turnover from other activities was off by 1.5 per cent at EUR328m. 

The French consolidated turnover increased by 5.9 per cent to EUR750m in the nine months, with the cement turnover improving by 3.7 per cent to EUR289m. The cement sales volume was stable and domestic prices improved. Aggregates and concrete turnover improved by 6.5 per cent to EUR383m. Aggregates volumes were up by almost five per cent, ahead with prices showing a slight improvement. Ready-mixed concrete volumes increased by nearly two per cent and prices showed an improvement. Other products and services saw turnover advance by 3.6 per cent to EUR222m.

Turnover in the rest of Europe showed a 0.5 per cent advance, which represents an underlying decline of three per cent to EUR294m. The Swiss turnover came off by 4.6 per cent. However, the cement turnover improved by 1.5 per cent at constant exchange rates. Prices and volumes both showed some improvement. In aggregates and concrete, turnover declined by 4.7 per cent as volumes fell by almost five per cent in ready-mixed concrete and by almost three per cent in aggregates. Prices were slightly ahead in concrete but lower for aggregates. In precast concrete, turnover declined by 10.7 per cent. The Italian turnover improved by 37.3 per cent and the cement volumes advanced by almost 29 per cent. 

In the USA, turnover improved by 44 per cent to EUR442m, but the underlying advance was a more modest 5.4 per cent. The cement volume eased by two per cent because of climatic conditions, but the underlying turnover improved by 2.1 per cent. The southeast suffered from bad weather in the third quarter as did California earlier in the period. Selling prices improved in both California and the southeast. The ready-mixed concrete turnover improved by 8.8 per cent overall as volumes improved by more than four per cent. Average selling prices improved across the board and volumes were ahead by more than four per cent. The Brazilian operations, acquired in January, contributed EUR98m, of which the cement activities accounted for EUR74.6m. The amount of cement sold amounted to 1.35Mt, while almost 1.5Mt of aggregates were delivered and 0.36Mm³ of ready-mixed concrete. 

Turnover in Asia declined by 6.4 per cent to EUR286m. The Indian turnover declined by 9.8 per cent to EUR233m, with prices performing strongly, but volumes declined by 18.2 per cent. Some 4Mt of cement was delivered. In Kazakhstan turnover improved by 9.3 per cent to EUR53.7m, but volumes declined by more than three per cent. In the third quarter turnover rose by 19.1 per cent on volumes that were just one per cent higher.      

The Mediterranean region, consisting of Turkey and Egypt, generated a turnover 21.8 per cent lower at EUR126m. The Turkish turnover was 17.1 per cent lower at EUR96m. Cement activities reported a 29.4 per cent reduction in turnover and an almost 35 per cent drop in volume. Prices, in Turkish currency, were well ahead. In concrete and aggregates, turnover came off by 11.3 per cent as volumes were almost 26 per cent lower, with local prices ahead because of the inflation in Turkey. The Egyptian turnover amounted to EUR29.3m, a decline of 1.7 per cent at unchanged exchange rates. Volumes were ahead by four per cent.

In Africa the turnover declined by 6.8 per cent to EUR161m. Cement deliveries were almost five per cent lower across the region. Prices were largely stable in Senegal, declined in Mali but improved in Mauritania.