Cement News tagged under: holcim
Argentinan capacity at its limits?07 November 2013, Published under Cement NewsCement production capacity in Argentina is reaching its limit, according to Sitio Andino. The rupture of a filter that paralysed Loma Negra’s San Juan works for a month-and-a-half, at a time when the Mendoza construction sector enjoyed a recovery, has highlighted the tight fit between supply and demand in the South American country. Delivery lead times shot up to 30-45 days and prices surged at retail level to around US$58/50kg bag. Loma Negra and Holcim, two major cement producers recog... |
Holcim management reshuffle07 November 2013, Published under Cement NewsHolcim has announced a series of changes in their most senior management team that will further streamline and focus the leadership of the company. Bernard Terver, a member of the Holcim Executive Committee, will assume responsibility for Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent (India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh). Onne van der Weijde will remain area manager for India and will be instrumental in the foreseen restructuring of the two Indian operations ACC and Ambuja Cements. Javi... |
Holcim held back by weaker Indian and Mexican markets05 November 2013, Published under Cement NewsHolcim's turnover for the first nine months declined by 6.1 per cent to CHF14,941m, as weaker Indian and Mexican markets hold back the company's performance. In euro terms the reduction was 8.0 per cent to EUR12,136m and in US dollar terms the decline was 5.7 per cent. The Asia Pacific region generated 37.5 per cent of group turnover, down from 39.3 per cent a year earlier, while Europe represented 28.4 per cent, up from 26.5 per cent. Latin America contributed 17.1 per cent against 15.6 ... |
Holcim Croatia to boost profitability25 October 2013, Published under Cement NewsHolcim Croatia said it is implementing a new strategy to help drive the company back to profitability by 2015. The new operational plan cover all of Holcim's divisions and business segments in Croatia with measures including increasing prices and finding new markets as well as niche ones, SeeNews reports. As a result of a difficult construction market, cement consumption has fallen from 2.39Mt in 2009 to around 1.7Mt in 2012. This is well below total domestic capacity of 3.7Mta and industr... |
ACC and Ambuja see slow return to growth24 October 2013, Published under Cement NewsACC and Ambuja Cements, both part of Holcim, have reported a decline in quarterly sales due to subdued demand and lower cement prices, and expect a slow return to growth as near term challenges persist. Net profit at ACC, India's second-largest cement maker, halved to INR1.21bn in the July-September quarter. Net sales rose three percent to INR25.1bn. The company expects "gradual but slow improvement in demand.” Ambuja posted a 45 per cent fall in net profit to INR1.66bn for the quarter ... |
Holcim, Cemex Europe deal to be examined21 October 2013, Published under Cement NewsEU antitrust regulators will assess a bid by Cemex to acquire Holcim's cement operations in Spain following a request from Spanish authorities, the European Commission said. Cemex and Holcim announced plans back in August this year to exchange some assets and combine others in Germany, Czech Republic and Spain to boost profit amid tough conditions in the European construction sector. The Spanish part of the deal involved Cemex and Holcim combining all their cement, ready-mix and aggregate... |
Holcim and Febelcem contest competition ruling02 October 2013, Published under Cement NewsHolcim and Belgian cement association Febelcem are appealing against the judgement by the country’s Anti-Competition Council. Last August, Belgium’s anti-competition authorities fined three companies – CBR, CCB and Holcim – and two associations (Febelcem and CRIC/OCCN) for a total of EUR14.7m. According to the council, the five organisations had colluded between May 2000 and October 2003 to avoid the use of slag in the production of ready-mix concrete. Febelcem director André Jasienski... |
Holcim CEO sees cost-cutting starting to work02 October 2013, Published under Cement NewsFrenchman Bernard Fontana, CEO of Holcim, who last year became the first outsider to lead the 101-year-old Swiss company, has been implementing a strict cost-cutting regime right through the company that extends even to himself. Shortly after taking the helm of Holcim, the 52-year-old Fontana launched a cost-cutting programme with the aim of restoring Holcim's return on invested capital (ROIC) to at least eight per cent after tax and boosting operating profit by at least CHF1.5bn (US$1.7bn... |
Holcim ceases production at Dannes02 October 2013, Published under Cement NewsNine months after stopping the kiln at Dannes, France, Holcim officially ceased production at the plant on 30 September. Staff have been partly transferred to Lumbres, Dunkerque and Rochefort. |
HSBC downgrades Holcim on emerging markets slowdown27 September 2013, Published under Cement NewsHSBC has downgraded Holcim to neutral from overweight and also reduced its target price to CHF72 from CHF77, citing weaknesses in emerging markets. The bank says an emerging market slowdown means there will over capacity and oversupply of cement will remain, while return on invested capital will be under pressure because of a squeeze on margins. |