Hanson increased first half turnover by 14.4% to £1,998.2m, with the EBITDA advancing by 16.4% to £322.5m and the trading profit by 15.8% to £228.4m, with Civil & Marine being consolidated from March. Net debt stood at 60.6% of shareholders’ funds at the end of June, compared with 43.7% a year earlier.  North American cement deliveries were 6.6% higher and prices rose by 11.6%, while in ready-mixed concrete shipments were 5.4% higher and prices emerged 16.3% ahead. 

In aggregates, prices improved by 12.0% on volumes that were ahead by 3.7%.  In the British operations, volumes fell by 4.8% in aggregates and by 0.5% in ready-mixed concrete, but prices rose by 6.4% and 7.1% respectively.

 The Australian business reported aggregates volumes and prices up by 1.7% and 4.7% respectively, with ready-mixed concrete prices were 2.7% higher on deliveries that improved by 2.0%.  Across the Continental European division, ready-mixed concrete shipments increased by an average 12.0% and the aggregates tonnage advanced by 8.2%.  Finally, Asia-Pacific ready-mixed concrete deliveries fell by 14.2%3, but aggregates shipments were 4.7% higher.
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