HeidelbergCement - March 2019

With a turnover advancing by 4.7 per cent to EUR18.074.6m, EBITDA came off by 6.8 per cent to EUR3074.1m and the trading profit was 9.3 per cent lower at EUR1983.7m in 2018 when compared with 2017. However, over the same period the net financial charge was 12.3 per cent lower at EUR366.7m, giving a pretax profit was 4.5 per cent higher at EUR1764.5m. The tax charge was 19.9 per cent lower at 464.1m. After a reduced loss from discontinued activities of EUR14.2m and minorities 1.9 per cent higher at EUR143.2m, the net attributable profit amounted to EUR1143m, an advance of 24.6 per cent. The net debt was 3.8 per cent lower at EUR8367m, giving a gearing level of 49.7 per cent, compared with 54.4 per cent a year earlier.

The group sales of cementitious materials rose by 3.2 per cent YoY to 129.93Mt in 2018, while the aggregates volume increased by 1.4 per cent to 309.40Mt. Ready-mixed concrete deliveries were ahead by 3.7 per cent to 49Mm³, while shipments of asphalt were 7.1 per cent higher at 10.32Mt. HC Trading’s volume rose by 22.1 per cent to a record peak of 30.9Mt and the Group Services turnover improved by 34.8 per cent to EUR1754m.

Looking ahead to 2019, the group is expecting improved volumes in cement, aggregates and ready-mixed concrete and moderate growth in turnover, trading profit and net attributable profit.