Cement News tagged under: Latin America

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Argentina: cement demand falls 1.8% YoY

09 April 2014, Published under Cement News

In March 2014, Argentina’s cement companies shipped 910,954t, including exports, reflecting a 13.5 per cent MoM rise, but a YoY drop of three per cent. The domestic market was entirely supplied by local cement and demand rose MoM by 14.7 per cent to 898,807t but was 1.8 per cent lower than in March 2013.

Lafarge Brasil inaugurates Rio de Janeiro plant

25 March 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge has inaugurated a new cement plant in Santa Cruz, in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In its first year of operation the plant will produce some 500,000t of cement and will reach full capacity of 750,000tpa by 2015. The plant covers an area of more than 57,000m2, and is located on the edge of Avenida Brasil to facilitate logistical operations. It will work in line with Lafarge’s existing cement plant in Cantagalo, with which it will share raw materials. Two types of cemen...

Peruvian domestic dispatches stable

19 March 2014, Published under Cement News

Cement dispatches in Peru edged up 0.14 per cent in Jan-Feb 2014 to 1,639,454t when compared with the equivalent period of the previous year, according to Peru’s cement association, Asocem. However, producers saw a 25.3 per cent YoY drop in exports, which reached 32,569t. Cement production in the country’s cement plants fell 1.2 per cent to 1,657,696t when compared with Jan-Feb 2013.

Fitch Affirms Holcim rating, outlook stable

13 March 2014, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of Swiss cement major of Holcim as at BBB. The outlook is stable. The ratings agency said the affirmation reflects Holcim's leading market positions as one of the world's largest cement producers and its improving financial profile. The group reduced leverage to 3.5x in 2013 from 4.2x in 2011 (on a fully consolidated basis), supported by in excess of CHF1bn in non-core net asset disposals over the past two years. Earning...

Argentina: monthly cement demand slips

12 March 2014, Published under Cement News

In February 2014, dispatches from Argentina’s cement plants fell 13.9 per cent MoM to 802,573t, including exports. However, YoY the drop was more modest at 4.4 per cent, data from domestic association AFCP reveals. Domestic cement consumption saw a similar MoM and a 3.1 per cent YoY decrease with cement producers delivering 783,917t. No imports were recorded.

Cimpor achieves record cement sales and profits

03 March 2014, Published under Cement News

On a comparative basis, turnover at Cimpor increased by 25.5 per cent last year to EUR2624.5m and the EBITDA rose by 45.5 per cent to EUR691.8m. The trading profit emerged at EUR487m compared with a loss of EUR7.2m in the previous year on an integrated basis, or a EUR305.8m proforma profit on a restated basis, or a 59.3 per cent increase. The net financial charge, on an integrated basis, rose by 23.2 per cent to EUR406.9m, giving a pre-tax profit of EUR80.1m and at the net attributable le...

Mixed full-year performance for Holcim

28 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Holcim reported a mixed performance in 2013 as attributable profit doubled while turnover declined. Overall volumes were down due to weaknesses in key emerging markets, but European shipments were finally on the up. For the full year Holcim’s turnover declined by 6.8 per cent to CHF19,719m (US$22,349m). Operating EBITDA edged ahead by 0.2 per cent to CHF3896m, though ignoring last year’s restructuring there was a 5.6 per cent reduction. Trading profit rose by 34.8 per cent to CHF2357m but w...

Peru: January sales slip 3%

25 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Cement shipments in Peru reached 824,137.39t in January, according to the country’s cement assocation Asocem. This represents a YoY decrease of 3.1 per cent. In January, Peruvian cement producers exported 17,220t.

Lafarge's profit drops in Europe and Latin America, but group net profit jumps

24 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge's turnover declined by 3.9 per cent to EUR15,198m in 2013, having increased by 3.5 per cent in 2012. The EBITDA came down by 9.4 per cent to EUR3102m and the trading profit fell by 14 per cent to EUR2,075m as carbon credits dropped by 85.9 per cent from EUR99m to EUR14m. Net financial charges, which had been rising in recent years, declined by 4.9 per cent to EUR1041m, while other charges were 88.9 per cent lower at EUR55m, resulting in a pre-tax profit 20.2 per cent higher at EU...

FLSmidth establishes Colombian office

19 February 2014, Published under Cement News

FLSmidth is expanding its operations on the Colombian market through the establishment of a new office in the city of Barranquilla in the northern part of the country. “The new office that opened on 1 January 2014 will bring FLSmidth even closer to its customers on the Colombian market and strengthen the local service offerings,” FLSmidth said in a statement. The company also added that over the last decade, the Colombian economy has been on an upward spiral due to improvement in the secu...