Cement News tagged under: international
Australian cement shortage relief to put building on track09 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsNorth Queenslands sole cement supplier, Cement Australia, says supplies should be back to normal by mid-May. Builders throughout the north have been forced to postpone projects and some have had to lay off workers because of the shortage of cement. Cement Australia said flooding at its Gladstone plant early in the year coupled with the high demand from a booming construction industry, had caused the shortage. These were compounded by problems with one of our supply ships causing unfore... |
PPC still working hard on BEE deal, South Africa09 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsThe planned broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE) deal by Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) has been delayed further, with the R4 billion transaction expected to be finalised in the next few months. John Gomersall, PPC’s chief executive, said yesterday that the process was at an advanced stage but one of the problems was that a few things were out of the control of the listed cement and lime producer. “Certain approvals are necessary,” he said. The finalisation of the financing of ... |
Shree Cement sees 15 per cent sales growth in FY0909 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsIndia’s Shree Cement expects a 15 per cent growth in sales volumes in 2008/09 on sustained demand, its top official said on Thursday. The firm sold around 6.3Mt of cement in 2007/08, managing director HM Bangur told Reuters. It will also spend INR3.5bn in FY09 to further expand capacity at its unit in the northern state of Rajasthan to 9Mta, he said. The plant currently has a capacity to produce 8Mta. The investment will be funded through internal accruals, he said. "We expect the ... |
Weak economy will take toll on cement consumption09 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsWith the US economy experiencing a severe economic weakness, its impact on cement consumption and the construction industry will not be mild, according to the latest Portland Cement Association (PCA) forecast of cement, concrete, and construction. In 2008, Portland cement consumption is expected to drop 11 per cent, followed by an additional 5.5 per cent in 2009. PCA predicts total cement consumption in this year to be 101.7Mt. A record consumption of 128Mt was reached in 2005. Peak-to-... |
Lower volumes hit Italcementi’s results09 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsItalcementi’s first quarter turnover declined by 4.5% to EUR1306.6m, the running EBITDA was down by 5.3% to EUR 260.9m and the trading profit fell back by 8.8% to EUR 157.5m. Between them, France and Egypt accounted for some 53% of the group’s EBITDA. Without the de-consolidation effect of Calcestruzzi, which remains under court administration, turnover would have risen by 2.8% but the running EBITDA would still have been lower, albeit by a more modest 3.8%. The pre-tax profit fel... |
HeidelbergCement’s first quarter shows good underlying growth outside the USA09 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsHelped by the consolidation of Hanson, the first quarter results from HeidelbergCement show a 71.8% increase in turnover to HeidelbergCement’s first quarter shows good underlying growth outside the USA 3,062.3m and the EBITDA advanced by 52.3% to EUR385.2m. The trading profit improved by 33.1% to EUR 189.6m, while the lower contribution from associates and substantially higher interest payments led to an 89.7% drop in the pre-tax profit in the seasonally weak first quarter. Capital i... |
Orascom boosts Lafarge’s Middle Eastern & African cement sales08 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsLafarge’s turnover increased by 8.3% in the first quarter to EUR4,000m, helped by the consolidation of Orascom from the 23rd of January. The EBITDA advanced more markedly by 33.0% to EUR765m and the running profit before tax rose by 65.1% to EUR279m, while the net attributable profit more than doubled from EUR150m to EUR362m. Net debt at the end of March was up by 91.2% to EUR16,135m, to give a gearing level of 115.5%. Capital expenditure rose by 35.4% to EUR409m, while 98.8% of the EUR84... |
Cement companies slash prices in Gujarat08 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsIndicating the first signs of a roll-back in last three years, the cement companies have slashed the billing price by Rs3 per bag in Gujarat on Monday. The ban on exports of cement and clinker have forced companies to take this move, according to a senior official of a leading cement company. About 85-90% of the country’s exports take place from Gujarat and players like UltraTech Cement and Gujarat Ambuja Cement are the leaders. In the non-trade business or bulk segment, the prices of cemen... |
Cement to note highest price growth in 2008, Poland08 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsIn spite of the warm winter this year there has been no shortage of construction materials on the market, and, as a consequence , no acceleration in prices. Only aggregates and cement may become dearer this year, experts from the Association of Building Materials Producers (ZPMB) reported. Cement has already risen by around 10% since January, and this has helped push up the price of roof tiles and bricks. Certain insulation materials are also marginally more expensive than at the beginning... |
Holcim Philippines prepares for cement industry growth08 May 2008, Published under Cement NewsHolcim Philippines, Inc. will spend P2 billion this year as it upgrades its equipment in preparation for as much as 10% growth in the local cement industry. "We’re allotting [50% more capital expenditure] to accelerate the refurbishment of plants in Bulacan, Davao and La Union," Holcim Chief Operating Officer Ian S. Thackwray said on the sidelines of the company’s stockholders’ meeting yesterday. He expects the company to perform better this year. "We’re cautiously optimistic because the... |