Cement News tagged under: Lafarge

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Deutsche Bank more positive on European building sector in 2013

20 December 2012, Published under Cement News

Deutsche Bank expects cement stocks to be among the front runners in any cyclical recovery in 2013 and recommends "buying" HeidelbergCement, Buzzi Unicem and Lafarge as its top picks within the sector, according to reports by Bloomberg. The bank takes a more positive view on the European building materials sector saying it should benefit from a return to 3.5 per cent  global GDP growth while there could well be a growth surprise in the euro area. "Into 2013 we believe the significant lever...

Lafarge looking to sell South Korean unit

12 December 2012, Published under Cement News

Lafarge is seeking to sell its majority stake in South Korean unit Lafarge Halla Cement for KRW700bn (US$650m) and is currently searching for buyers, according to a report by Reuters citing South Korean online media Edaily. The company is said to have chosen US-based Lazard and HSBC’s South Korean unit as managers for the sale. Lafarge operates one integrated cement works and two grinding plants in South Korea with a combined cement capacity of 9.6Mta. In 2011, it had an approximate ma...

Zimbabwe: Chilanga cement's Managing Director is deported

07 December 2012, Published under Cement News

The Zambian government has deported the managing director of Lafarge cement barely a week after deporting directors of another cement plant Zambezi Portland. Fola Esan was bundled, denied access to his lawyers and put on next flight out of Zambia on Thursday afternoon. He has not been charged with any specific offence apart from the now famous charge of likely to be a danger to Zambia. But sources have told the Watchdog that Fola has been deported for refusing to give contracts to PF cadre...

Lafarge to build new Rio de Janiero works, Brazil

30 November 2012, Published under Cement News

Lafarge announced on Thursday that it is to construct a second cement plant in Rio de Janeiro to better serve expected increases in demand fuelled by the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Brazil. The new unit , located in the city of Santa Cruz , the metropolitan area of the state , will have production capacity of around 750,000tpa. With an investment of US66m and the generation of 350 direct jobs, the unit will receive funding ...

Fitch Ratings: mixed picture for EMEA companies

27 November 2012, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings says 3Q12 results reported by Fitch-rated Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) cement companies, Holcim Ltd ('BBB'/Stable), HeidelbergCement AG ('BB+'/Stable) and Lafarge SA ('BB+'/Stable) showed a number of positives, but confirmed that general market conditions are still challenging and the outlook remains uncertain. Europe disappoints The European markets represented a negative surprise, mainly due to a weakening in volume sales. This not only reflects some peripheral ...

Lafarge and Anglo American sell UK assets to Mittal

16 November 2012, Published under Cement News

Lafarge and Anglo American agreed to sell UK assets for up to GBP285m, clearing the way for their building materials joint venture, according to Reuters. The sale, to Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, was a condition set by Britain's Competition Commission to allow the two companies to combine their building materials activities in the country. The divestments, which are conditional upon regulatory approval, comprise: a cement plant in Hope, Derbyshire, with a capacity of 1.4Mt,...

Holcim increases cement price 6.6% in Mauritius

15 November 2012, Published under Cement News

Holcim has announced a rise in its cement prices in Mauritius. Customers will pay MUR211.60, up from the current MUR198, representing an increase of 6.6 per cent. The increase will cover both OPC and Ecocem. Bulk cement prices will reach MUR4163/t, ex-works. Holcim (Mauritius) has attributed the cost due to an increase in fixed costs as well as “improving Ecocem, which passes into a higher strength class”, and the devaluation of the rupee. Meanwhile, Lafarge (Mauritius) Cement has said it...

Lafarge 9M12 sales increase, reduces Western Europe outlook

09 November 2012, Published under Cement News

Lafarge reported a sales rise for the third quarter and year-to-date, driven by successful price increases across product lines and by growth in many emerging markets. The company has maintained its outlook for full-year market growth but lowered its outlook for Western Europe. In the third quarter alone, consolidated sales were up four per cent to €4393m while EBITDA rose six per cent to €1071m. Current operating income up 9 per cent to € 815m. Over the first nine months of 2012, consolid...

Eagle Material reports second quarter rise in earnings, USA

30 October 2012, Published under Cement News

Eagle Materials has reported continued growth in sales volumes and earnings in the second quarter as revenues rise 22 per cent to US$164.7m. Second quarter sales volumes improved across all major business lines and wallboard net sales prices increased 30 per cent as compared to the prior year's second quarter. Improved second quarter operating cash flow was used to fund capital expenditures, pay dividends and reduce debt which further strengthened our financial position. Eagle ended the qua...

Breedon Aggregates withdraws from Tarmac/Lafarge asset bid, UK

19 October 2012, Published under Cement News

Breedon Aggregates, the building materials group, said it has withdrawn from bidding to acquire assets being off-loaded by Lafarge and Tarmac. The two firms have been forced to sell by the Competition Commission before a construction materials joint venture can go forward. ??Earlier in October, Breedon submitted offers to the sellers' advisers for a number of the assets. "In the event, the group has been unable to meet the value expectations of the sellers in respect of the majority of...