Displaying items by tag: Results

Thailand: SCG’s sales from its cement business rose by 3% year-on-year to US$3.04bn in the first half of 2019 from US$2.94bn in the same period in 2018. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 7% to US$410m from US$382m. Cement sales in the second quarter of 2019 were driven by the non-government sector. Overall the group’s sales and earnings fell due to poor performance from its chemicals division, which it blamed on the on-going US-China trade war.

India: Ambuja Cement’s net sales increased by 5% year-on-year to US$834m in the first half of 2019 from US$824m in the same period in 2018. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 3% to US$168m from US$164m. However, its sales volumes of cement dropped by 3% to 12.2Mt from 12.6Mt. Bimlendra Jha, the managing Director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the subsidiary of LafargeHolcim, said that the company managed to optimise its logistics, raw material and fixed costs.

Mexico: GCC’s results for the first half of 2019 have been negatively affected by poor weather in the US. Its net sales grew slightly by 1.3% to US$404m from US$399 in the same period in 2018. Sales fell in the US but they rose in Mexico. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 5% to US$109m from US$115m.

“While GCC’s US operations continued to be adversely impacted during the second quarter by an above average precipitation, below-average temperatures and construction labour shortages, the substantial backlog at our US operations underscores strong demand for our products. We’ve begun to reap the benefits early in the third quarter, as the US weather has finally cleared,” said Enrique Escalante, GCC’s chief executive officer (CEO). He added that the group had ‘successfully leveraged’ its new Trident plant in Montana and improved production levels at its Rapid City plant in South Dakota following a stabilisation process. Oil well cement shipments from its Chihuahua Plant to new terminal at Fort Stockton in Texas have also started.

UK: Breedon Group’s revenue grew by 18% year-on-year to Euro502m in the first half of 2019 from Euro424m in the same period in 2018. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 22.3% to Euro90.9m from Euro74.0m. Cement sales volumes increased by 11% to 1Mt and ready-mixed concrete sales fell by 6% to 1.5Mm³.

"The period began well, with benign weather in the first quarter and generally healthy demand for our products, particularly in England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, somewhat offset by fewer large projects in Scotland. Our performance in the second quarter was adversely impacted by lower volumes in Great Britain due to a flat construction market, ongoing project delays and competitive trading conditions. However demand in Ireland remained robust,” said group chief executive Pat Ward. He added that July 2019 had started well and that the group expected a ‘strong’ second half of the year.

Saudi Arabia: Tabuk Cement’s sales revenue grew by 29% year-on-year to US$30.4m in the first half of 2019 from US$23.5m in the same period in 2018. It attributed the sales growth to improved prices despite poor sales volumes. It reported a net profit after Zakat and tax of US$3.4m for the half, after a loss of US$0.27m in the first half of 2018.

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Tvornica Cementa Kakanj’s sales revenue fell by 9.7% year-on-year to Euro16.4m in the first half of 2019 from Euro18.3m in the same period in 2018. Its net profit dropped by 42% to Euro3m from Euro4.7m. The subsidiary of Germany’s HeidelbergCement operates an integrated cement plant at Kakanj.

China: Cement production volumes grew by 6.8% year-on-year to 1.05Bnt in the first half of 2019. Profits from the sector rose by around 20% to US$11.6bn, according to the China Securities Journal and the Xinhua News Agency. This growth has been attributed to buoyant real estate and infrastructure markets. The trend is expected to continue into the second half of the year with even greater profits anticipated. In 2018 the sector reported a record high profit of US$22.5Bn.

India: ACC’s net sales grew by 8% year-on-year to US$1.15bn in the first half of 2019 from US$1.06bn in the same period in 2018. Its operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 18% to US$191m from US$162m. Its cement sales volumes rose by 2% to 14.7Mt from 14.4Mt and its ready-mixed concrete (RMX) sales volumes jumped by 15% to 1.79Mm3 from 1.56Mm3.

“I am pleased that EBITDA improved significantly on account of better realisations, operational efficiencies and supply chain efficiency improvement. Despite subdued cement demand, our strong customer relationships, loyal channel network and range of innovative products have helped us deliver a robust quarter,” said Neeraj Akhoury, the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of ACC. He added that the company’s concrete business grew ‘strongly’ due to eight new RMX plants it added in the second quarter. Altogether the company operates 82 operational.

Peru: Cementos Pacasmayo’s sales grew by 5.3% year-on-year to US$193m in the first half of 2019 from US$183m in the same period in 2018. Its consolidated earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 5% to US$57.1m from US$54.5m. Cement production at its three plants rose by 10.6% to 1.2Mt from 1.08Mt. The cement producer attributed the growth in sales to higher sales in the public sector, El Niño reconstruction spending and a revival of infrastructure projects.

Oman: Raysut Cement’s revenue fell by 5% year-on-year to US$108m in the first half of 2019 from US$114m in the same period in 2018. Its profit after tax dropped by 27% to US$1.3m from US$1.8m.