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ACC to consider merger with Ambuja Cement

08 May 2017, Published under Cement News

The Board of Directors of ACC, at its meeting on Friday, decided to commence an evaluation of a potential merger with Ambuja Cement. Both Indian cement concerns are part of the LafargeHolcim group. The move is being considered "with a view to combine the strengths of both businesses so as to benefit all stakeholders," ACC said in a statement. A special committee of directors, of which the majority are independent directors, has been installed to commence the evaluation. "No decision ...

Trinidad Cement revenues down 12%

04 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) said its revenue for the first three months of the year was down by 12 per cent YoY to TTD422m (US$62.5m) due to a construction slowdown in one of its major markets and tougher regional competition. Group volumes in 1Q17 were down six per cent YoY which the company said reflected a slowdown in Trinidad and Tobago construction activity, compounded by increased competition in the Caribbean region. However, TCL noted that positive trends continued in the Jamaican m...

MPA sales suggest 'continued impetus' in construction

04 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Construction market demand in the UK for mineral products was higher in the first three months of this year compared with the previous quarter, providing some evidence of continued impetus in construction activity at the start of the year, according to the Mineral Products Association (MPA). Sales of aggregates grew by 2.1 per cent in 1Q17 compared to the previous quarter and ready-mix concrete by a positive but more subdued 0.7 per cent. Mortar sales accelerated further after the strong ...

Vicat expects improved Europe, US, India and west African markets

03 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Vicat's first-quarter turnover eased by 0.5 per cent to EUR551m, which represents an underlying advance of 1.4 per cent. The cement turnover declined by three per cent to EUR283m, as cement shipments advanced by 1.2 per cent to 4.89Mt. Before inter-sector eliminations, the cement turnover amounted to EUR335m. The turnover in concrete and aggregates was three per cent ahead at EUR204m, which represents an underlying decline of 2.5 per cent, as aggregates shipments rose by 3.7 per cent to 5...

Martin Marietta boosted by Building Materials

03 May 2017, Published under Cement News

US-based Martin Marietta yesterday announced record consolidated net sales of US$791.7m in the first quarter of 2017, up 7.9 per cent on the same period of last year. The company also said consolidated gross profit reached a high of US$147.1m in 1Q17 compared with US$145.3m a year earlier. EBITDA totalled US$147.7m in the first quarter of this year, it added. Commenting on the performance, Ward Nye, chairman, president and CEO of Martin Marietta, stated: "Our strong first-quarter resu...

Al Anwar signs greenfield investment plan

03 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Omani private equity firm Al Anwar Holdings has entered into a shareholders' agreement with Hormozgan Cement Co of Iran to establish Hormuz Al Anwar Cement SAOC for the construction of a greenfield grinding plant in the port town of Duqm, Oman. The new facility will has a slated capacity of 0.6-1Mta and is expected to involve an investment of OMR10.5m (US$27.3m), according to a disclosure statement posted on the Muscat Securities Market website and reported by the Times of Oman.  “This...

Polish cement demand to rise 2.5% in 2017

02 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Cement production in Poland increased by two per cent in 2016, according to the Polish Association of Cement Producers. In 2017 cement demand is expected to grow by 2.5 per cent to 16.1Mt thanks to healthy housing and transport infrastructure construction markets, the association said. However, its future also depends on the EU’s CO2 emissions policies, the association added. With 14 plants, owned by the subsidiaries of eight international cement producers, Poland’s cement sector points ou...

Cemex hikes cement price 20% in Mexico

02 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Cemex increased its price for grey cement in Mexico by 20 per cent YoY in 1Q17. It represents the largest first-quarter increase in at least a decade and twice the seven per cent rate of inflation. No reasons were disclosed for the rise in prices. In addition, the company also announced a 4.3 per cent increase in investments to US$730m this year.  "One of our highest priorities is to recover our investment grade, so we continue to make significant progress in this quarter, from our 20...

Cemex reports jump in net profit

28 April 2017, Published under Cement News

Cemex reported a jump in net profit to US$336m in the 1Q17 from an income of US$35m in the same period of last year, as the Mexican major as the cement maker continued to sell assets and reduce debt. On a like-for-like (LFL) basis for the ongoing operations and adjusting for currency fluctuations, consolidated net sales increased by six per cent during the 1Q17 to US$3.1bn versus the comparable period in 2016. Operating EBITDA on a LFL basis increased by two per cent during the quarter to ...

Holcim Philippines sees 'challenging' 1Q17

27 April 2017, Published under Cement News

Lower public infrastructure spending, tighter industry competition and higher production expenses led to a dip in Holcim Philippines' first-quarter financial performance, the company reported today. The company’s net sales for the first three months of 2017 reached PHP8.8bn (US$176.1m), down 12 per cent YoY due to the challenging business environment. Holcim Philippines also booked PHP1.7bn in operating EBITDA compared to PHP2.5bn in the 1Q16 due to higher costs from rising fuel price...