Cement News tagged under: latin america

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Holcim's results boosted by mild winter in Europe

28 April 2014, Published under Cement News

Holcim's first quarter turnover declined by 5.4 per cent to CHF4,088m (€3,342m), but on a like-for-like basis, there was a 7.8 per cent increase while measured in euros the turnover was off by five per cent.  The operating EBITDA declined by 5.1 per cent to CHF617m (€504m), but this represents an underlying increase of 10.1 per cent. The trading profit increased by 9.3 per cent to CHF295m (€241m), while the net attributable profit dropped by 57.5 per cent to CHF80m (€65m), as last year's ...

Cemento Melón cuts investments to US$15m due to 10% sales decline

23 April 2014, Published under Cement News

Chile’s Cemento Melón has seen sales drop by 10 per cent in the first quarter of 2014. "Earlier this year we estimated that we would at least maintain 2013 sales, but in the first quarter the market fell about 10 per cent, and we saw sales drop by a similar number," Jorge Eugenin, the company’s CEO, said. In addition, as the cement industry is nearly 100 per cent dollarised, the depreciation of the Chilean peso has also impacted profit margins as costs jumped. In terms of investments m...

Brazil’s first quarter sales rise 6.4% YoY

18 April 2014, Published under Cement News

Brazil’s first quarter sales rose 6.4 per cent YoY to 17.1Mt, preliminary data from SNIC shows. Sales in March reached 5.6Mt, representing YoY growth of 1.9 per cent compared to the same month of 2013. Cumulative sales for the last 12 moths (April 2013 – March 2014) rose by 4.3 per cent against the comparative period  of the previous year (April 12 – March 2013).

Cemex delivers 640 new homes as part of Colombian affordable housing initiative

17 April 2014, Published under Cement News

Cemex announced Tuesday that it has completed 640 apartments in Colombia as part of a 3000-unit urbanisation project being undertaken by the company in collaboration with the country's government. The full project comprises 3,000 apartments divided into 96 towers of four stories each. The complexes will include recreational and green areas. The paving for the complex will be done with concrete also provided by Cemex. Colombian Housing Minister Luis Felipe Henao was present to inaugurate th...

Peru: market expands 1.35% in 1Q14

16 April 2014, Published under Cement News

In March, the Peruvian cement market remained broadly stable from 815,317t in February to 814,495t, according to domestic cement association, Asocem.   Output from local producers increased 1.4 per cent from 832,275t the previous month to 844,301t and exports rose 8.1 per cent from 15,349t in February to 16,599t. Between Jan-Mar 2014, cement shipments in Peru totalled 2,453,948t, a YoY increase of 1.35 per cent. Production in the first quarter of 2014 reached 2,501,997t, slipping b...

Argentina: cement demand falls 1.8% YoY

09 April 2014, Published under Cement News

In March 2014, Argentina’s cement companies shipped 910,954t, including exports, reflecting a 13.5 per cent MoM rise, but a YoY drop of three per cent. The domestic market was entirely supplied by local cement and demand rose MoM by 14.7 per cent to 898,807t but was 1.8 per cent lower than in March 2013.

Lafarge Brasil inaugurates Rio de Janeiro plant

25 March 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge has inaugurated a new cement plant in Santa Cruz, in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In its first year of operation the plant will produce some 500,000t of cement and will reach full capacity of 750,000tpa by 2015. The plant covers an area of more than 57,000m2, and is located on the edge of Avenida Brasil to facilitate logistical operations. It will work in line with Lafarge’s existing cement plant in Cantagalo, with which it will share raw materials. Two types of cemen...

Peruvian domestic dispatches stable

19 March 2014, Published under Cement News

Cement dispatches in Peru edged up 0.14 per cent in Jan-Feb 2014 to 1,639,454t when compared with the equivalent period of the previous year, according to Peru’s cement association, Asocem. However, producers saw a 25.3 per cent YoY drop in exports, which reached 32,569t. Cement production in the country’s cement plants fell 1.2 per cent to 1,657,696t when compared with Jan-Feb 2013.

Fitch Affirms Holcim rating, outlook stable

13 March 2014, Published under Cement News

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of Swiss cement major of Holcim as at BBB. The outlook is stable. The ratings agency said the affirmation reflects Holcim's leading market positions as one of the world's largest cement producers and its improving financial profile. The group reduced leverage to 3.5x in 2013 from 4.2x in 2011 (on a fully consolidated basis), supported by in excess of CHF1bn in non-core net asset disposals over the past two years. Earning...

Argentina: monthly cement demand slips

12 March 2014, Published under Cement News

In February 2014, dispatches from Argentina’s cement plants fell 13.9 per cent MoM to 802,573t, including exports. However, YoY the drop was more modest at 4.4 per cent, data from domestic association AFCP reveals. Domestic cement consumption saw a similar MoM and a 3.1 per cent YoY decrease with cement producers delivering 783,917t. No imports were recorded.