Cement News tagged under: USA

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US January shipments rise 5%

09 April 2013, Published under Cement News

Total shipments of Portland and blended cement in the US and Puerto Rico for January 2013 were up by five per cent to 4.8Mt compared to the same month a year ago, latest data from the US Geological Survey shows. The leading consuming states (Texas, California, Florida, Arizona and Oklahoma, in descending order) received about 46 per cent of the total January shipments. The leading Portland cement-producing states in January were Texas, California, Florida, Missouri and Alabama (in desc...

Votorantim Cimentos sees gains in Brazil, USA

03 April 2013, Published under Cement News

Votorantim Cimentos’ turnover was nine per cent higher at BRL9800m (US$4.85bn) in 2012 and the EBITDA improved by around 11 per cent to BRL3200m.  In Brazil, both volumes and prices were up by four per cent, while in North America volumes improved by 17 per cent and prices by 12 per cent.  "The combination of a favorable market alongside the opening of new factories and mills allowed a four per cent increase in sales volume in Brazil, reaching 24Mt. The average price of cement rose fou...

Lafarge North America sells Wichita, Kansas, assets to Summit Materials

02 April 2013, Published under Cement News

Lafarge North America is selling its Wichita aggregates, concrete and asphalt/paving operations to Summit Materials. The Lafarge-Summit agreement involves Lafarge’s three aggregate quarries, five ready-mix concrete sites and three asphalt operations in the Wichita area, according to Lafarge. The transaction is expected to close in early April. Layoffs are expected although how many employees it will affect has not yet been specified. Lafarge has had the Wichita operations since November ...

Texas Industries third-quarter loss narrows, USA

28 March 2013, Published under Cement News

Texas Industries, Inc reported a net loss of US$5.8m for the third quarter ending 28 February 2013 compared to a net loss of US$24.3m in the same period a year before. “Construction activity in Texas and California continued to improve this quarter,” stated Mel Brekhus, Chief Executive Officer. “Gross profit increased US$14.2m on increased sales of US$19.5m. This increase in profitability primarily reflects the benefits of increased shipments in reducing unit costs, and success in increas...

Titan's profits decline, except in the USA

05 March 2013, Published under Cement News

Titan Cement of Greece reported a 3.6 per cent recovery in turnover for 2012 to €1130.7m, following the 19.2 per cent drop in the previous year. EBITDA, however, continued its double-digit decline and fell by 19.8 per cent to €195.8m. While consumption in its home market of Greece has fallen to less than a quarter of the 2006 peak level, Titan has witnessed a reversal in fortunes in its US operations. In spite of a swing from a €11.9m loss on foreign exchange to a €1.5m profit, there was ...

Holcim ahead despite Europe slowdown

04 March 2013, Published under Cement News

Annual results released by Holcim earlier this week show that cement sales for the Swiss major in 2012 were ahead in spite of lower European volumes and political instability in the Middle East. Turnover during the year rose by 3.9 per cent in 2012 to CHF21,544m and in euro terms the increase was 6.4 per cent to EUR17,867m. Operating EBITDA improved 6.2 per cent to EUR3502m before restructuring costs, after which the advance was a mere 0.7 per cent to EUR3304m. The trading profit fell by ...

Holcim (US) and Aggregate Industries US celebrates Centennial with community service Initiative

28 February 2013, Published under Cement News

Holcim and Aggregate Industries US, a Holcim Group Company, celebrated the centennial anniversary of their parent company, Holcim Ltd in 2012. To mark the milestone, the company launched Together for Communities, an initiative in which employees led local volunteer projects. Together for Communities built on the Holcim mission and extends the values that are essential to creating the highest quality products. Over the course of the year employees contributed more than 34,600 volunteer hours...

Colombia’s Argos closes 2012 with 25% rise in EBITDA

26 February 2013, Published under Cement News

Argos, Colombia’s largest cement producer, recorded a 25 per cent YoY rise in EBITDA in 2012 and an 82 per cent rise in operating income. The group, which also operates in the Caribbean and US, reported EBITDA of COP791,190m and operating income was COP414,566m. After incorporating the cement and concrete assets acquired in the southeastern US, consolidated revenues reached COP4,380,393m. "We traded in 10.8Mt of cement and 8.5Mm3 of concrete in Colombia, the Caribbean and the United S...

Italcementi launches five-year bond, Italy

25 February 2013, Published under Cement News

Italcementi, the fifth-largest cement producer in the world, has launched a five-year bond of EUR350m at an issue price of EUR99.477 and a coupon of 6.125 per cent, according to reports in La Stampa. At the closure of the placement, orders exceeded EUR 2.5bn. Credit rating agency Moody's has rated the Italcementi bond Ba2 with a "negative" outlook. For 2013, Moody's expects Italcementi to face challenging market conditions in its key markets Egypt and France and, to a lesser extent, in Mor...

Vulcan looks for further improvements in 2013

15 February 2013, Published under Cement News

Vulcan Materials' turnover edged up by 0.1 per cent last year to US$2567.3m, marking the second consecutive year of virtually static sales. EBITDA, again little changed, eased by 0.4 per cent to US$423.5m. Excluding exceptional exchange offer costs, the EBITDA increased by 9.2 per cent to US$466.8ms. After a net interest charge 2.4 per cent lower at US$211.9m, the pre-tax loss was again reduced by around one-fifth to US$120.4m and the net loss came down by 25.7 per cent to US$52.7m. Capi...