Cement News tagged under: Holcim

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ACC September cement production up 9%, India

02 October 2012, Published under Cement News

ACC Ltd, part of the Holcim Group, reported that its production in September rose by nine per cent to 1.82Mt from  1.67Mt in the same month of 2011. Dispatches reached 1.80Mt, compared with 1.73Mt, an increase of four per cent. For the first nine months of this calendar year, cement production stood at 18.28Mt compared with 17.76Mt in the corresponding period last year, an increase of three per cent. Meanwhile, cement dispatches were 18.22Mt, up by two per cent from 17.79Mt in January-Septe...

JPMorgan Raises Holcim To Overweight

20 September 2012, Published under Cement News

JPMorgan Cazenove raises Holcim to overweight from neutral and lifts its price target to CHF70 from CHF56.50 on the notion that the 2Q uptick in emerging market margins could be the start of a longer run for cement sales in those markets. "Its emerging markets business is seeing margins on the turn driven by rising prices, less new capacity and relatively stable energy costs," says analyst Michael Morris. "Its portfolio gives it better access to Asia and Latin America which in the near term ...

Further Spanish cuts ahead

19 September 2012, Published under Cement News

The Spanish cement sector is facing more job cuts and possible further restructuring measures as local cement consumption continues to tumble. Management of Cementos Lemona presented yesterday a job-cutting plan, which will affect 34 employees at the company's plant in the Basque country, according to trade union ELA. Local newspaper Expansion reported that the  measure is part of the viability plan of cement group Portland Valderrivas, which controls Cementos Lemona. The group is t...

Holcim: realising growth potential whilst cutting costs

10 September 2012, Published under Cement News

Holcim highlighted its cost cutting programme and the growth potential in its emerging markets at its latest investor and analyst event, which took place on 3-4 September in Zurich, Switzerland.   While a global recovery remains elusive, emerging markets continue to grow. Holcim noted its net sales have increased above their 2007 level, from US$22.543bn to US$23.306bn in 2011. However, higher costs have led to EBITDA falling by US$1.3bn from US$5.775bn to US$4.447bn over the same period. Ne...

Huaxin sees 82.3 per cent slide in 1H12 net profit, China

06 September 2012, Published under Cement News

Huaxin Cement said net profit for the first half of 2012 fell 82.3 per cent YoY to CNY95.92m (US$15m). Operating revenue slid 1.53 per cent YoY to CNY5.49bn with basic earnings per share of CNY0.1. Huaxin Cement is 41.6 per cent controlled by Holcim. Last year, the Chinese producer continued its acquisition policy and purchased three works in the Hubei province with a combined capacity of 5Mta, giving Huaxin Cement a capacity of 58.5Mta which has increased further since year end.

Holcim’s Indian interests report August declines

05 September 2012, Published under Cement News

Holcim’s Indian group companies, ACC and Ambuja Cements, have reported marginal declines in cement production and dispatches for August 2012. ACC, India’s second largest cement producer, posted a decline of 6.9 per cent in cement production as well as cement dispatches to 1.75Mt last month, compared to 1.88Mt in August 2011. Total cement production between January-August 2012 saw growth of 2.4 per cent to 16.47Mt, against 16.09Mt in the same period of last year. Dispatches for the eigh...

Mining company looks to restart Kandos operations, Australia

04 September 2012, Published under Cement News

Mining company Kingsgate Consolidated has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the owners of the former Kandos cement works in an attempt to revive production. About 100 people lost their jobs when the cement works owned by Cement Australia (part of the Holcim group) stopped production last September. The New Projects Manager Simon McDonald says it is one of a few sites that will be considered. "As you know Kandos was shut down last year with the loss of quite a few jobs and s...

Tanga Cement profit rises 56 per cent, Tanzania

31 August 2012, Published under Cement News

Tanzania-based Tanga Cement, part of the Holcim Group, has posted a  56 per cent YoY rise in net profit to TZS15bn (US$9.5m) due to increased exports and stable electricity supplies. Gross profit was also driven by a 14 per cent rise in domestic sales while exports increased 35 per cent YoY.  Commenting on the results, acting Chairman, Prof Samuel Wangwe said: "With substantially reduced maintenance and electricity costs, gross profit for the period increased by 40 per cent to TZS30.25b...

Holcim to employ more co-processing in China

23 August 2012, Published under Cement News

Holcim will focus on co-processing technology to get ahead in China’s competitive market. The Swiss major views China as a valuable market where its profits improve in future years. "The current market is flat. As the market continues to flatten, the nature of competition will change. The values of sustainability and environmental performance will play a much bigger role for a company's further development," said Ian Thackwray, Holcim's president for Asia-Pacific and South Africa. Holc...

Holcim's profit ahead, reshuffles top management

20 August 2012, Published under Cement News

Holcim increased its consolidated sales of cement fuelled by the emerging markets and North America in the 1H12. However, the group said it is advancing a cost-cutting programme as European sales drop faster than anticipated and has announced a management shake-up in an effort to streamline its group structure.   The Swiss cement major noted that first-half turnover improved 2.1 per cent to CHF10,357m (US$10,651m) and in euro terms there was a 7.6 per cent increase to €8591m. Higher sales v...