Cement News tagged under: europe

RSS feed

Italcementi shareholders approve 2013 results

17 April 2014, Published under Cement News

At Italcementi’s annual general meeting in Bergamo yesterday, the shareholders of Italcementi SpA approved the financial statements for 2013. The company closed the year with an operating profit of EUR159.3m (against a loss of EUR140.2m the year before) and revenue of EUR4235.4m. The AGM approved distribution of a dividend of EUR0.06/each ordinary share (EUR0.06 in FY12) and EUR0.06/each savings share (EUR0.06 : 2012), with the total corresponding amount to be withdrawn from the extraordina...

Spain: cautious outlook maintained

14 April 2014, Published under Cement News

Cement demand in Spain registered its first monthly growth since the recession started as it reached 875,000t in March, up 16 per cent YoY, according to Oficemen data. However, the increase has been attributed to a weaker comparative period, with the Easter holiday falling in March last year resulting in few working days. Moreover, March 2013 was one of the wettest in history, further hampering building activity last year.  March 2014, on the other hand, has experienced much milder weather...

Oyak eyes Europe, Africa acquisitions

10 April 2014, Published under Cement News

Turkey-based Oyak is looking into acquisitions in the cement sector, with a specific focus on Europe, Africa and Great Britain, its cement group chairman Celalettin Caglar said on Thursday. Speaking to Reuters, Caglar said that the group is also interested in acquisition opportunities that could arise through the Lafarge and Holcim merger as the groups look to divest in assets to appease potential concerns by antitrust regulators. The company’s said on Monday that two-thirds of divestments ...

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...

CRH expects 2014 profit growth

25 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Irish building materials major CRH said 2013 represented a trough in its profits and expects growth in 2014 encouraged by improving trends in the USA and signs of stabilisation in Europe. Full-year turnover eased by an underlying 0.3 per cent in 2013 to EUR18,031m while the EBITDA declined by 5.6 per cent to EUR1,475m. The trading profit before charging EUR650m of impairments was down by 10.0 per cent to EUR750m, with European building products accounting for nearly two thirds of this ch...

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...

Cementos Cosmos restarts Toral kiln, Spain

20 February 2014, Published under Cement News

After a two-month shutdown and an investment of around EUR2m, Cementos Cosmos has lit the kiln at its Toral de los Vados plant following an upgrade project.  The works were carried out to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the facility and include a remodelling of the kiln to reduce energy consumption. The project has brought Toral, which celebrates its 90th year of continued operation, up to date and transformed it into a modern and efficient works.

Lafarge sees improved operational trends in fourth quarter

19 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge saw a continued improvement in fourth quarter volumes, supported by ongoing growth in most emerging markets, the recovery in the US and stabilising conditions in Europe. Adverse exchange rates continued to weigh on sales which were down two per cent in the final three months of 2013 to EUR3714m, but up five per cent on a like-for-like basis. 4Q EBITDA was down six per cent to EUR793m but up 14 per cent like-for-like as the group reported increases in all regions driven by highe...

Lacklustre start to year for Spain

19 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Spanish cement producers can only hope for a better 2014 as demand figures for January 2014 show a 13.6 per cent fall to 764,011t, according to the country’s cement association, Oficemen. However, the rate of market contraction appears to be slowing somewhat. Over the past 12 months, consumption fell by 18.7 per cent. But recovery seems some time away as the result is worse than predicted. Oficemen had indicated in December that it expects a 7-8 per cent decrease for 2014.

Buzzi sees advances in Russia and US

10 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Italian cement major Buzzi Unicem saw turnover decline by 2.1 per cent last year to EUR2754m as the company saw another fall in its domestic market of Italy, but Russia and the US were its best performers. Net debt at the end of December was 5.3 per cent below the level seen a year earlier at EUR1066m. Group cement deliveries in 2013 increased by 0.3 per cent to 27.4Mt, but ready-mixed concrete deliveries declined by 5.1 per cent to 12.9Mm³. The underlying EBITDA, which will be announced ...