UK: Drivers working for Hanson Cement are set to take strike action over what they have termed a ‘very unsatisfactory’ pay deal offer. The action is set to take place on one shift covering 26 - 27 February 2018 and will hit deliveries to and from the Padeswood plant near Mold, Wales. About 240 workers voted by 89% for strike action over the two-year pay deal.

The union Unite and the firm's management are holding last-ditch talks today (15 February 2018) in a bid to reach a settlement to avert strike action. The company is part of the HeidelbergCement Group.

The deal on offer is for a 2% pay increase from 1 January 2018, and a further increase in 2019 linked to inflation but capped at 3%.

Under the action drivers will also not spend overnights in their vehicles or use their cab phones between 26 February - 20 May 2018. They will withdraw ‘goodwill’ for the same three month period, i.e. not training of new or agency drivers.

Unite national officer for road transport Adrian Jones said, "Our members regard the two-year pay deal on the table as very unsatisfactory, given the current rate of inflation and soaring cost of living. The proposals also don't reflect the strong contribution that they make to the company's profitability.”

Hanson Cement said it had made a fresh 2.5% offer for 2018 and said further negotiations will take place. He added that they were hopeful about reaching a settlement that would avert strike action.

Colombia: Cementos Argos has reported a net loss of US$23.4m in the fourth quarter of 2017 due to lower prices and higher costs, primarily due to economic deceleration in Colombia. The net loss was a contrast to the US$21.6m profit made in the same period of 2016. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 8.9% to US$126.7m during the quarter.

"The fall in income and EBITDA of Cementos Argos is best explained by the price of cement in Colombia, which reached its lowest level in the second quarter of the year," said the company in a statement. Imports from countries that subsidise industrial energy costs and exchange rate changes led to the fall in prices.

For the whole of 2017 Cementos Argos’ net profit slumped by 86.3% to US$27.0m, compared to US$196.9m during 2016. EBITDA for the full year 2017 was down by 15% to US$497.0m.

Zimbabwe: Lafarge Zimbabwe is looking to expand its operations as it is set to commence exploratative drilling for lime within the next two months. It already has two mining operations where limestone is extracted at Mbubu in Mashonaland East Province and Sternblick quarry in Harare.

The company told local press that exploratative drilling was anticipated to commence in April 2018. This comes as its environmental impact assessment for limestone exploration drilling in Pfura Rural District was approved. The company has contracted Bumira Environmental Consultants to perform the environmental assessment.

Australia: Boral Ltd has announced that its profit for the first half of the 2017-2018 fiscal year (from 1 July 2017 – 31 December 2017) rose by 13%. The company benefited from the 2017 acquisition of the US-based building products firm Headwaters Inc. and continued growth in its Australian business.

It reported a net profit of US$136.0m for the six month period, a rise of 12.7% compared to the same period of the 2016 – 2017 fiscal year when it made US$120.7m. Its profit before amortisation and significant items increased by 58% to US$$186.5m.

"These strong results confirm that our transformation strategy is on track," said Chief Executive Mike Kane. "The Headwaters acquisition has helped transform Boral into a construction materials and building products group with a greater geographic reach and improved prospects for growth."

Boral’s US business, which was only breaking even in 2015 – 2016, recorded a fourfold rise in earnings, despite adverse impacts from bad weather, including two hurricanes.

Kane also said Boral’s Australian arm, its largest divison, was ‘exceptionally strong’ during the half. Boral reported a 12% rise in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation from that business.

"Higher revenues and earnings were driven by increased spending on infrastructure, in line with our expectations that a large proportion of our work would gradually shift from residential to infrastructure projects, primarily in the eastern states," said Kane.