Cement News tagged under: Europe

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Lafarge's profit drops in Europe and Latin America, but group net profit jumps

24 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge's turnover declined by 3.9 per cent to EUR15,198m in 2013, having increased by 3.5 per cent in 2012. The EBITDA came down by 9.4 per cent to EUR3102m and the trading profit fell by 14 per cent to EUR2,075m as carbon credits dropped by 85.9 per cent from EUR99m to EUR14m. Net financial charges, which had been rising in recent years, declined by 4.9 per cent to EUR1041m, while other charges were 88.9 per cent lower at EUR55m, resulting in a pre-tax profit 20.2 per cent higher at EU...

Cementos Cosmos restarts Toral kiln, Spain

20 February 2014, Published under Cement News

After a two-month shutdown and an investment of around EUR2m, Cementos Cosmos has lit the kiln at its Toral de los Vados plant following an upgrade project.  The works were carried out to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the facility and include a remodelling of the kiln to reduce energy consumption. The project has brought Toral, which celebrates its 90th year of continued operation, up to date and transformed it into a modern and efficient works.

Lafarge sees improved operational trends in fourth quarter

19 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge saw a continued improvement in fourth quarter volumes, supported by ongoing growth in most emerging markets, the recovery in the US and stabilising conditions in Europe. Adverse exchange rates continued to weigh on sales which were down two per cent in the final three months of 2013 to EUR3714m, but up five per cent on a like-for-like basis. 4Q EBITDA was down six per cent to EUR793m but up 14 per cent like-for-like as the group reported increases in all regions driven by highe...

Lacklustre start to year for Spain

19 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Spanish cement producers can only hope for a better 2014 as demand figures for January 2014 show a 13.6 per cent fall to 764,011t, according to the country’s cement association, Oficemen. However, the rate of market contraction appears to be slowing somewhat. Over the past 12 months, consumption fell by 18.7 per cent. But recovery seems some time away as the result is worse than predicted. Oficemen had indicated in December that it expects a 7-8 per cent decrease for 2014.

Buzzi sees advances in Russia and US

10 February 2014, Published under Cement News

Italian cement major Buzzi Unicem saw turnover decline by 2.1 per cent last year to EUR2754m as the company saw another fall in its domestic market of Italy, but Russia and the US were its best performers. Net debt at the end of December was 5.3 per cent below the level seen a year earlier at EUR1066m. Group cement deliveries in 2013 increased by 0.3 per cent to 27.4Mt, but ready-mixed concrete deliveries declined by 5.1 per cent to 12.9Mm³. The underlying EBITDA, which will be announced ...

HeidelbergCement's results hit by currency effects

06 February 2014, Published under Cement News

The preliminary full-year 2013 figures from HeidelbergCement show turnover easing by 0.6 per cent to €13,936m, though on an underlying basis there was a 3.4 per cent increase. EBITDA eased by 2.1 per cent to EUR2424m, but improved by two per cent on a comparative basis, and the trading profit edged ahead by 0.2 per cent to €1607m. The number of employees rose by 1.1 per cent to 52,560, as a reduction of around people 750 in North America and Europe was more than offset by the increased sph...

CBR to close Harmignies cement plant, Belgium

23 January 2014, Published under Cement News

CBR, part of HeidelbergCement, announced Wednesday to staff representatives that the company plans to close the Harmignies 0.22Mta white cement plant in Belgium, a move which is expected to affect 97 jobs. "This announcement can be explained by the structural difficulties faced by the plant as well as the deterioration of the white cement market. If it is confirmed, this could generate for the collective dismissal of 97 workers at the site," said the works’ management, stressing that a the...

Cemex to export 100,000t white cement from Sagunto

22 January 2014, Published under Cement News

Mexico-based cement producer Cemex anticipates it will export 100,000t of white cement through the port of Sagunto, Spain. A first shipment is expected to leave the port for Greece, carrying 4500t of cement. A second dispatch will deliver a similar volume in big bags. White cement demand has experienced a surge in north African countries as the material is enjoying growing popularity in the construction of both public and private buildings, according Carlos Moreno, Cemex Levante’s directo...

Swiss shipments advance 3.8% YoY

08 January 2014, Published under Cement News

Swiss cement shipments in 2013 rose by 3.8 per cent YoY, latest data from local association cemsuisse reveals. Fourth quarter sales proved to be particularly strong, rising 7.2 per cent YoY due to favourable weather conditions. Total deliveries for the year reached 4.564Mt last year compared to 4.395Mt during the year before. CEM II represented the lion’s share of sales at 85 per cent, while CEM I accounted for 13.3 per cent. A significant change was seen in distribution methods...

CRH full-year development spend

07 January 2014, Published under Cement News

CRH announced a total of seven acquisitions and investment initiatives in the second half of 2013, taking full-year development activity to EUR0.69bn. The company invested EUR0.22bn in the six months to the end of December last year, including one transaction in Asia, three under its American Materials division and a further three in its Distribution segment. Commenting on the these developments, CRH’s new chief executive Albert Manifold said: “Development spend of almost EUR0.7bn in 2013...