US: Texas Industries (TXI) has seen its cement sales rise by 20% year-on-year to US$104m for the first quarter of its 2013 – 2014 financial year, compared to US$87.3m in the same period in the previous year. Cement shipments rose by 17% to 1.31Mt from 1.12Mt.
Although the company noted a general improvement in construction markets, in the cement sector it also saw an increase of sales and prices in its Texas market. CEO Mel Brekhus stated that the start up of the company's new kiln in Central Texas was the most successful of any he had been involved with in his career.
TXI reported a net income of US$429,000 for the first quarter of 2013 – 2014, up from a net loss of US$2.66m in the same period in 2012 – 2013. Net sales rose by 34% to US$233m from US$175m.