Vulcan Materials’ first half turnover declined by seven per cent to US$1,229.4m, though in the last quarter there was a 2.0% improvement.  The EBITDA fell by 41.1 per cent to U$156.1m and the pre-tax loss for the period jumped from US$20.3m to US$122.4m.  Capital investment was reduced by 29.9 per cent to US$42.2m.  The net debt came down by 8.3 per cent to US$2,704.2m to give a gearing of 69.1 per cent. 

Vulcan sold 0.38Mt (0.4Mst) of cement in the period, an increase of 32.8 per cent, with inter-group deliveries rising by 40.3% to 0.16Mt and third party sales advanced by 27.9 per cent to 0.22Mt.  The average cement price, however, declined by US$88.46/t (US$80.25/st), but the turnover advanced by 11.6 per cent to US$116.5m thanks to the rise in volumes.  The gross loss was reduced from US$1.8m a year ago to US$0.8m this time.  As modest second half loss in currently being expected from the cement business.   
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