Cement News tagged under: international
Siam City Cement Q1 net up10 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsThailand’s second-biggest cement maker, Siam City Cement PCL , said on Tuesday quarterly net profit rose two per cent, lifted by public construction projects such as a new airport, but margins were trimmed by high fuel and electricity costs. Analysts expect domestic cement demand to remain strong, rising 10 per cent this year. Cement sales have risen with a pickup in construction for residential, commercial and public sector building, including bridges, roads and work on Bangkok’s new $3 bi... |
Holcim increases its Chinese stake10 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsHolcim , the world’s second-largest cement maker, has increased its stake in Chinese cement maker Huaxin Cement Co. Ltd. , the Chinese company said on Tuesday. Holcim B.V. had bought an additional 8.7 million publicly traded B shares in Huaxin, or 2.67 percent of its equity, it said in a statement published in the Shanghai Securities News. The deal would be valued at about 2.7 million yuan (US$326,200), based on Tuesday’s share price. After the purchase, Holcim owned 85.76 million B sha... |
European majors remain optimistic10 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsEuropean building materials producers Lafarge, Holcim and HeidelbergCement have reiterated their growth forecasts for 2005 despite the expected four per cent year-on-year decrease in demand in the sector in Germany, it was reported on May 6, 2005. The companies’ confidence is attributed to the fact that the three largest European building materials producers are active worldwide. The companies managed to cut themselves loose from the sluggish demand in Germany. Lafarge reported a decreas... |
PPC reports 25 per cent growth in operating profits09 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsContinued growth in domestic cement volumes and improved operational efficiencies helped Pretoria Portland Cement Company Ltd (PPC) post a 25% growth in operating profit to R646.9-million in the six months to March 2005 (Mar 2004: R517.2-million). The growth in the domestic cement demand has been driven by the upswing in residential construction on the back of lower interest rates. These volumes together with price increases, excellent cost reductions and improved operational efficiencies i... |
Solid volumes with accelerating prices in Thailand09 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsDomestic cement sales hit a post-crisis record at 3.1Mt (+22% YoY) in March. 1Q05 cement sales were strong at 8.4Mt, up 18% YoY and 22% QoQ. Strong cement sales are attributed to continued construction activity from residential and commercial sectors as well as infrastructure works, i.e. new airport, bridges and flyovers. Cement prices on an uptrend: The market survey indicates that cement price increases of Bt200/tonne for mixed cement and Bt240/tonne for bagged portland cement. This in... |
Italcementi and Arabian Cement09 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsItalcementi SpA said its previous full year forecast for an operating profit in line with 2004’s Euro 788.5m, as stated under international accounting standards, now looks ’more difficult’. In the first quarter, net profit fell to Euro 33.8m, from Euro 50.8m a year earlier, operating profit fell to Euro 90.1m, from Euro 117.7m, and sales were Euro 990.2m, against Euro 1.006bn, the company said. The framework outlined at the time of the 2004 results remains substantially valid, with different... |
Holcim directors join ACC board09 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsTwo senior directors of Swiss cement giant Holcim have joined the ACC board, India’s second largest cement maker, on Friday following the acquisition of 34.7 per cent stake in ACC by Holcim. Markus Akermann, CEO, member of board of directors and Paul Hugentobler, member of executive committee, were appointed additional directors of ACC, taking the board strength to 14. Ambuja Cement India, which is majority-owned by Holcim and owns 34.7 per cent in ACC post-open offer, will thus, in all,... |
SGI banking on new gypsum board09 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsSiam Gypsum Industry (Saraburi) Co Ltd hopes the introduction of its new gypsum board will boost sales by nearly 10 per cent this year. The company expects to record sales of Bt3.27 billion in 2005, up from Bt3 billion last year. Marketing manager Olivier Guiluy said the company’s new seamless gypsum board, Signa, can solve most structural construction problems and make any home design reality. The board is about 10 per cent more expensive than normal gypsum board. Each board is 12 x... |
India’s ACC to boost capacity to 20.6Mt09 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsAssociated Cement Companies Ltd. (ACC) , India’s No. 2 cement maker, said on Friday its capacity would grow to 20.6Mtaq from 16.5Mta after modernisation and consolidation. The company will merge two subsidiaries, Bargarh Cement Ltd. and Damodhar Cement and Slag Ltd., with itself, a notice to the Bombay Stock Exchange said. The company also said it expected the industry to grow at 8 per cent in the year to March 31, 2006, and that cement prices would be "stable to improved". |
Poor Q1 for Ciments Francais09 May 2005, Published under Cement NewsIn the first quarter of 2005, the French cement producer Ciments Francais saw its turnover remain stable year-on-year, while its operating profit dropped 10 per cent, to Euro 73m, with a 130 basis-point drop in its operating margin. The quarterly results, which were released on Wednesday after the markets had closed, stem from a decrease in the company’s sales volume in Europe. Ciment Francais’ net profit, meanwhile, plunged 15 per cent, to Euro 45m, owing to a financial charge of Euro 7m un... |