The Building Bulletin Newsletters are a monthly roundup of all the latest news in the building materials sector. Free to subscribers of International Cement Review
Summit Materials gains despite record rainfall in US, Nicaragua sets out road development plan for 2019, St Gobain’s focus on price pays off in 9M18 results, Azerbaijan materials to hit AZN1bn by 2022 and Italian sales are up 22 per cent.
Global construction output to hit US$13trn by 2022, Lime market to see CARG of 2.5% in 2018-26, French construction expands by 3%, Wienerberger revises EBITDA forecast, World's first fully-recycled road and EUPAVE launches guide to LLCA.
Wienerberger sets out its growth plan for 2018-20 while Boral reports a revenue increase of 34 per cent. Turkmenistan sees the opening of a new gypsum plant and Sika opens a new factory in Dubai. US Concrete expands its aggregate business.
Eagle Materials reports record revenue up 8% YoY and the Pacific Alliance announces a new infrastructure investment fund. South Africa's civil engineering sector is expected to remain in the duldrums in 2018. Meanwhile, LafargeHolcim launches two new cement solutions.
US index reveals fears over skilss levels and tarifs while the MPA welcomes a constructor sector deal in the UK. Construction output in the euro area edges up. Saint-Botain acquires a ceilings business while Martin Marietta buys Mallard Sand & Gravel.
While in Ireland construction activity accelerates, clouds gather over the UK. Cemex signals its success by being awarded a cement and concrete supply contract for the Suez project and a sustainability award. Italy's construction equipment manufacturers enjoy an export boom. Knauf is to acquire USG Corp in US$7bn deal.
Breedon agrees to acquire Lagan Group. Vulcan posts increased 1Q earnings. While the harsh winter keeps LafargeHolcim and CRH revenues flat, Loma Negra sees 1Q sales up by over 40 per cent.
Forterra strengthens is leading UK masonry position while the European equipment market hits a high. In addition, US commercial construction indicates a land of opportunity. Paroc Group expands capacity in Poland.
Martin Marietta celebrates record results for 2017 but Argos sees concrete volumes tumble. Breedon and Lagan Group are in talks with Ireland enjoying a construction boom. Construction records are also broken in Germany but the picture is less rosy in the UK.
USGS reports a fall in US gravel and sand sales but an improving gypsum market. In the GCC region the construction sector looks to the future with optimism while in Azerbaijan the building materials industry has received a boost. Aggregate Industries tackles gender equality. Volvo Construction Equipment reports sales up by 31 per cent.
Sika sees sales surpass the CHF6bn mark while US contractors end 2017 on a high. The Philippines construction sector sees the price of building materials edge up. In France the housing market is expected to witness a slowing of volume growth in the year ahead.
UK industry units to warn of Brexit skills crisis. Breedon delivers solid performance in 10M17 while at Vulcan Materials there is an investor shake-up. Production in construction is up 0.1 per cent in euro area but down 0.4 per cent in EU28.
Sika strenghtens its global reach while Metso reports on its results. Martin Mariette increases its turnover in 9M17 and James Hardie sees its 1H net sales grow by six per cent. In addition, a new earthquake-resistant concrete and a photovoltaic energy-generating concrete facade are launched.
Favourable growth in the US drives Ferguson plc. Scandinavian markets level off and UK construction is in reverse gear. Vulcan acquires Polaris Materials while Sika continues to expand. Teko Mining boosts quarry production.
CRH continues its acquisition path as sales stabilise while Summit and Kingspan can also look ahead with optimism. While construction output slips in euro area, Estonian construction volumes see growth in 2Q17. USG launches a new waterproof membrane product.
Cemex reports mixed results while Breedon notes "strong profit improvement". Construction equipment sales are forecast to boom in China and India. In the UK demand for mineral products falls in 2Q17. Germany's construction sector sees activity accelerate in July.
Wolseley growth is supported by US and Nordic markets. Construction hits US$5bn in Cambodia while in Great Britain construction hotspots are shifting and the construction market in Slovakia picks up. Mississippi Lime buys Mercer Lime Co while a new concrete panel plant is set up as a joint venture in Malaysia.
Eagle Materials sees record revenues while GB aggregate demand is expected to hit 267Mta by 2030. Good news in terms of construction activity in May in Germany, but in New Zealand building consents fall in April.
Vulcan Materials, Martin Marietta, CRH and Saint-Gobain see good start to 2017. Knauf Gips plans to open a new gypsum plant in the Philippines while the global concrete bonding agents market is expected to boom.
Breedon "transformed" by Hope acquisition, Wolseley sees strong US market but exits the Nordics. In Australia building approvals are up 8.3 per cent. Renca launches new geopolymer cement for 3D printing.
