Displaying items by tag: growth

Ukraine: NEQSOL Holding Ukraine has filed an application to the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) to acquire a stake in Ivano-Frankivskcement. The group will take a loan from ‘leading international’ banks to pay for the stake.

NEQSOL Holding Ukraine manager Volodymyr Lavrenchuk, said “We are hopeful for an approval of the new deal by the AMCU so that we can welcome the high-tech enterprise Ivano-Frankivskсement into the NEQSOL Holding group of companies. We recognise the long-time outstanding results achieved by the Ivano-Frankivskсement management team and staff, who have created one of the most state-of-the-art cement plants in Europe.” He added “Our group of companies has successful experience in financing, including engagement of international financial institutions, which will help to secure the required investments for maintaining a high rate of growth of the cement plant.”

US: Cemex USA has upgraded two Florida cement terminals, the Pensacola and Palm Beach terminals, at a cost of US$8m. The upgraded terminals will serve to increase Cemex USA’s cement supply to the region through marine shipments from its global operations. The Palm Beach terminal is also involved in the distribution of assorted cementitious materials including granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and fly ash for cement production.

USA executive vice president Matthew Wild said “Florida is growing rapidly, and Cemex’s strong network makes our company well-positioned to implement supply chain and operational enhancements to meet the high demand for building materials in Florida and beyond.” He added “On the cement side, increased demand has outpaced supply at times, and we expect our supply chain enhancements to help alleviate that issue.”

Spain: Hanson Spain has agreed to sell its Madrid quarry and three ready-mix concrete plants in the Balearics to Cemex España. The buyer said that the investments promise a high return and are part of the strategic global strengthening of its vertically integrated positions near high-growth urban centres. It expects the deal to close in early 2022.

Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia regional president Sergio Menéndez said “This acquisition will allow us to better serve our clients by integrating and complementing our portfolio to provide a comprehensive and sustainable offering in Cemex’s high-growth regions of Madrid and the Balearic Islands.” He added “This is another example of the efforts we make to optimise our portfolio and drive earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) growth through high-yield complementary investments."

Hanson has also sold its aggregates and ready-mix concrete assets in Asturias, Catalonia and Madrid to different buyers. Parent company HeidelbergCement had announced a review of its Spanish assets on 22 February 2021. Their total value was Euro300m.

Spain: Consumption of cement in the first eight months of 2021 was 9.58Mt nationally, up by 13% year-on-year from 8.48Mt in the first eight months of 2020. The Spanish Cement Industry Association (Oficemen) says that consumption remains 2% below pre-Covid-19 outbreak levels in the corresponding period of 2019. The El Economista newspaper has reported that the association has forecast full-year cement consumption of 14.6Mt in 2020, slightly below the full-year 2019 figure of 14.7Mt.

President José Cascajero said "These levels put us on the path to have a growth in future years that is hopeful. The recovery of infrastructure, which has returned to being the primary source of demand, and residential building, has allowed both consumption and expectations to be substantially improved since April 2021.”

In 2022, he forecast year-on-year demand growth of 3 - 5%, due in part to the positive impacts of the EU post-Covid-19 outbreak recovery fund. Cascajero warned of the increasing burden of rising electricity prices and CO2 emissions fees and called for ‘structural reforms’ to mitigate their drag on growth.

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies recorded sales of Euro540,000 in the first half of 2020, more than five times the Euro96,000 recorded in the first half of 2020. Its cement sales were 1880t, more than double its first-half cement sales in 2020. During the period, its orders increased by 29% to 200,000t from 155,000t at 31 December 2020. The company recorded negative earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Euro2.56m, up by 22% from Euro2.10m in the first half of 2020. It loss declined by 39% to Euro2.68m from Euro4.14m.

Australia: Adbri’s first-half sales in 2021 were US$545m, up by 7% year-on-year from US$508m in the first half of 2020. The group’s cement and clinker volumes increased by 11%. It said that this was due to a rise in demand in the eastern states of Australia and the recommencement of regular supply to a customer in South Australia. The group increased its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to US$64.0m, up by 81% from US$35.3m. Its net profit increased by 95% to US$41.1m from US$21.1m.

CEO Nick Miller said “Adbri delivered a robust first half financial performance for 2021 recording solid growth in revenue and profits with improving margins as demand for construction materials rebounded, supported by increased residential housing activity and infrastructure spending.” He added that full-year 2021 earnings would increase less sharply year-on-year than first-half earnings have, due partly to the anticipated impacts of the opening of a rival cement terminal in New South Wales in the second half of the year.

Pakistan: The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has received a request from the Pakistan government to lower cement prices. The International News newspaper has reported that Finance and Revenue Minister Shaukat Tarin spoke with APCMA representatives about trends in cement pricing in the three years prior to August 2021 and the importance of cement in stimulating economic growth. Tarin encouraged the establishment of a consultative session between the association and relevant stakeholders, with the task of proposing a sustainable pricing mechanism.

Qatar: Switzerland-based Sika has expanded concrete admixture production capacity at it Doha admixture plant. The company has also announced the start of epoxy resin production in the country. It says that its present investments target growth to serve the expanding regional construction market. Numerous major projects and the expansion of energy and utilities infrastructure have driven a growing demand. Qatar’s state sourcing policy further increases consumption of building materials produced in the country.

Europe, Middle East and Africa regional manager Ivo Schädler said "Our latest investment in Qatar positions us for continued growth and strengthens our competitiveness in the country. In expanding our production, we are anticipating a substantial increase in demand and volumes for our high-value adhesives and flooring solutions. Our building sector customers will benefit from an expanded and locally produced portfolio of Sika solutions which, in addition, eliminates long-distance transportation."

Australia: Adelaide Brighton has recorded a net profit of US$21.1m in the first half of 2020, compared to a US$13.0m loss in the first half of 2019. Revenues fell by 7.3% to US$508m from US$548m due to a 12% construction decline over the period, according to the company. Residential construction fell by 16%, however mining and infrastructure activity remained consistent with levels in the first half of 2019. Adelaide Brighton said, “Cement demand is likely to continue to benefit from a strong production outlook for gold, nickel, and iron ore in particular, and stable demand from the alumina sector.”

Mexico: Elementia’s first quarter sales were US$49.0m, down by 5.0% year-on year from US$52.0m in 2019. Group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was US$20.4m, down by 7.0% from US$22.0m in the first quarter 2019. Cement volumes fell by 11% year-on-year to 1.08Mt from 1.22Mt.

The company suspended all operations in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador from 20 March 2020 and in Colombia and El Salvador from 30 March 2020. It says that it has moved its 2020 strategic focus to ‘inventory reduction and sustained US cement growth.’