Cement News tagged under: Cost-cutting

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Cemex confident on medium-term goals

14 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Cemex remains confident that it is on track to meet its medium-term EBITDA goal as it continues to capture the full potential from its existing portfolio to improve profitability and return to investment-grade status, the company said during its annual investor gathering. Speaking on the company’s strategy and outlook during Cemex Day 2014 held yesterday, Juan Pablo San Agustin, executive VP of strategic planning and new business development, reiterated the company's intention of achieving...

UltraTech quarterly profit hit by subdued demand

20 January 2014, Published under Cement News

UltraTech Cement, the leading cement producer in India, reported a 38.43 per cent decline in net profit for the last three months of 2013 as sluggish demand leads to a weaker pricing environment. Net profit during the October-December quarter fell to INR370 crore compared to INR601 crore in the same period of 2012.  Net sales in the three month period also declined marginally to INR4786 crores compared to INR4857 crore in the comparative quarter the year before. Domestic cement and cl...

Cementir sets out 2014-16 business targets

18 December 2013, Published under Cement News

Cementir's Board of Directors has approved the company's 2014-16 Business Plan which sees average annual EBITDA growth of around 16 per cent over the period. The plan lays the foundations for a further period growth following positive trends seen during 2013, the company said in a statement released yesterday. The strategy focuses on four key priorities: Improving the profitability of the current business Consolidating the group’s leadership in the white cement market Complet...

Cementir’s Taranto cement plant to cease clinker production by year-end

09 December 2013, Published under Cement News

Cementir is to cease clinker production from its 1.4Mta integrated Taranto works at the end of December, but milling operations are set to continue at the southern Italy-based plant. The company reiterated that weak domestic demand has led to a reduction in production levels, although for 2014 there are early indications of a slight recovery in consumption. Over the first nine months of the year, Cementir’s domestic deliveries were down by another 14 per cent and turnover declined by E...

Temporary lay-offs at Brookfield plant, Canada

03 December 2013, Published under Cement News

Lafarge Canada plans to layoff 31 of about 50 unionised workers at its Brookfield plant in Nova Scotia during December as part of a cost-cutting measure. Plant manager, Scarth MacDonnell told the Herald Business that the lay-off is consistent with the seasonal nature of demand given the “weather-related impact of the construction industry.” However, he confirmed that the workers will be back on-site early next year and also expressed his confidence on the plant’s future. In 2010, Lafarge...

Portland Valderrivas reduces losses

27 November 2013, Published under Cement News

Cementos Portland Valderrivas has cut losses in the first nine months of 2013 thanks by 74 per cent to EUR24.8m compared to EUR95.2m in the same period of last year, thanks to a series of cost control measures. Group revenues for the period amounted to EUR413m, of which Spain accounted for EUR168m. Operations in the US and Tunisia accounted for 60 per cent of group revenues and partly offset weak cement demand in Spain, which fell 22 per cent YoY to 8.3Mt over the Jan-Sept period. EBITDA in...

Lafarge 3Q net profit steady, announces new cost reduction and innovation targets

06 November 2013, Published under Cement News

Lafarge reported a slight increase in the third-quarter profit with on the back of reduction initiatives, despite sales being impacted by negative currency movements. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bruno Lafont said: "With improving volume trends and despite the adverse effect of exchange rates, we continued to progress in the third quarter on our strategic action plan. ...We have accelerated and will complete our 2012-2015 cost reduction and innovation plan one year ahead of our in...

Holcim and Cemex to swap, combine assets in Europe

28 August 2013, Published under Cement News

Holcim and Cemex have reached an agreement to conduct a series of transactions to exchange and combine assets in parts of Europe with the aim of improving synergies and boosting operating profit. Cemex increase its presence in Central Europe through the acquisition of Holcim Cesko in the Czech Republic. The deal includes one cement plant (cement and clinker capacities of 1.1Mta and 0.9Mta, respectively), four aggregate quarries and 17 ready-mix plants. Holcim said it will continue to serve...

Cost cuts help Holcim 2Q net profit edge ahead

15 August 2013, Published under Cement News

Holcim has reported a slight increase in 2Q net profit as cost cuts helped boost profitability but weaker demand in India, Canada and Mexico fell short of expectations. Net income edged up to CHF383m (US$411m) from CHF377m a year earlier. Revenue fell 3.3 per cent to CHF5.33bn in the three months through June as Ambuja Cements Ltd, its Indian subsidiary, struggled with an early monsoon season and weaker-than-expected economic growth in the country. Last month, Holcim restructured it...

Lafarge trims market growth outlook, debt reduction goal on track

26 July 2013, Published under Cement News

Lafarge reported a marked rise in 2Q net profit although consolidated sales declined. The company has now trimmed its forecast for cement market growth this year but confirmed its goal to reduce debt to below EUR10bn this year.  EBITDA fell eight per cent to EUR922m and current operating income declined 11 per cent to EUR667m. Net profit in the second quarter came in at EUR201m compared to EUR39m in the same period last year when earnings were hit by exceptional items. Consolidated sal...