Cement News tagged under: Weekly Newsletter
Ecocem to invest EUR5m in two UK terminals21 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsIreland-based Ecocem will open a new terminal at Runcorn, on the Manchester Ship Canal, to help the company import into the UK, and plans a second terminal later this year in the southeast of the country. The two terminals represent an investment of EUR5m. The closure of steel plants and coal-based power stations in the UK has led to a decreased supply in key raw materials for blended cements such as Ecocem’s ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) cement and together with a fall in U... |
LafargeHolcim brands CRH purchase write-down claims "without merit"21 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsCRH is disputing the value of the assets it purchased in February last year as part of the requirement from competition regulators to allow the creation of LafargeHolcim. The EUR6.5bn price paid by CRH is now under scrutiny, according to Reuters. In its annual report, published last week, LafargeHolcim stated: " LafargeHolcim has received from CRH several notices claiming a reduction of the purchase price. LafargeHolcim is contesting those claims. "In view of the information availab... |
Cement Australia stake up for sale?21 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsOne of the two main shareholders of Cement Australia is reported to consider a potential sale of its 50 per cent stake, according to market sources. The value of Cement Australia is being discussed at US$800m, according to reports in Business Spectator. One theory suggests that Holcim could carry out the divestment ahead of plans to sell of its US$3bn Australia and New Zealand division to Adelaide Brighton in light of its merger with Lafarge. However, the deal would be subject to appr... |
HeidelbergCement improves margins and profit18 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsHeidelbergCement's turnover increased by 6.7 per cent last year to EUR13,465m and the EBITDA improved by a 14.2 per cent to EUR2612.7m and the trading profit advanced by 15.7 per cent to EUR1846.1m. After a 14.3 per cent reduction in net interest payments to EUR396.3m, the pre-tax profit rose by 41.1 per cent to EUR1313.4m and the net attributable profit jumped by 64.7 per cent to EUR800.1m after a 54.3 per cent higher tax charge and a minorities charge of 9.2 per cent lower at EUR183.1m.... |
German cement demand reaches 26.6Mt in 201518 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsGerman cement consumption reached approximately 26.6Mt in 2015, some 2.2 per cent less than the previous year, according to German Cement Works Association (VDZ). The outlook for 2016 is more optimistic with the VDZ expecting positive market developments. "The persistent low level of investment in trade and industry has had a noticeable effect on the cement market", said Gerhard Hirth, President of VDZ. Despite the generally positive economic climate, no additional demand impetus came from ... |
Spanish demand up 8.4% in February17 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsDemand for cement in Spain has grown 8.4 per cent YoY to 891,297t in February, according to the latest figures of Oficemen, the country’s cement association. According to Aniceto Zaragoza, Oficemen’s general director, the data are consistent with the association’s forecast for 2016 which expects the cement market to grow by seven per cent. For the first two months of 2016, demand reached 1,638,713t, representing a 3.9 per cent YoY advance. |
PPC eyes longer-term growth outside of Africa16 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsPPC has unveiled a new expansion strategy that envisages doubling the business every 10 years and growing beyond its traditional markets in Africa. In an investor presentation posted on PPC's website ahead of this week’s Merrill Lynch conference in Sun City, the company set out its ambitions for the future even as it warned of falling cement sales in the first months of FY16. In the presentation, PPC states that it is on course to raise capacity to 12.7Mta by 2018 (a 47.7 per cent inc... |
Vicat’s profits declines in most markets15 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsFrench cement major Vicat saw its profits decline in most markets last year with the USA and India being the only exceptions. Turnover improved by 1.5 per cent in 2015 to EUR2457.9m and EBITDA was up by the same percentage to EUR448m, while at unchanged parameters there would have been declines of 4.4 per cent and 4.3 per cent, respectively. The trading profit fell by 4.8 per cent to EUR249.7m, with the reduction at unchanged parameters being 10.4 per cent as the stronger dollar had ... |
CRC attributable profit drops 76% YoY15 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsChina Resources Cement (CRC) said its profit attributable to owners for the year ended 31 December 2015 dropped 75.9 per cent YoY to HKD1015m (US$130.8m). Turnover was HKD26,779m, a decrease of 18 per cent from a year earlier. The consolidated gross margin was 24 per cent, representing a decrease of 7.3 percentage points from 31.3 per cent for 2014. The average selling price of cement last year was HKD269.9/t, down 20.2 per cent over 2014. The company noted that during 2015, demand for ... |
Titan's US profits more than double11 March 2016, Published under Cement NewsTitan's turnover rose by 20.7 per cent in 2015 to EUR1397.8m and EBITDA improved by 19.2 per cent to EUR216.4m. Following an 24.4 per cent increase in the depreciation and impairment charge to EUR130.7m. boosted by a EUR11.6m impairment charge in the USA, the trading profit declined by 3.2 per cent to EUR108.9m. The net financial charge was 1.7 per cent higher at EUR66.8m while the foreign exchange gain was 43.9 per cent lower at EUR17.4m in the previous year. The pr-tax profit was 10 per... |