France: Fives’ Process Technologies division’s commercial activities, including those to the cement market, have improved in 2021 following recovery in market confidence following the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Its order intake increased by 43% year-on-year to Euro702m in 2021 from Euro490m in 2020. Its sales fell by 2% to Euro623m from Euro637m. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 63%. In the cement sector, Fives said that the North American market had been active. It reported ‘significant’ orders in Mexico, partly in response to the growing US market driven by the government’s infrastructure bill that was approved in late 2021. Fives also noted growth in Canada, where several companies are working towards carbon neutral production.

Overall, across all market divisions, Fives’ order intake, sales and earnings increased in 2021.

Germany: HeidelbergCement’s first-quarter sales were Euro4.43bn in the first quarter of 2022, up by 12% year-on-year from Euro3.96bn in the first quarter of 2021. Its cement and clinker sales volumes remained level year-on-year at 28.4Mt. Sales grew in all regions except North America, where they fell by 6% to Euro798m from Euro849m. Cement and clinker sales volumes fell there by 17%, but rose in every other region.

Chair Dominik von Achten said “The first quarter of 2022 was not an easy one for HeidelbergCement. Despite the continuing uncertainties regarding the supply of energy and raw materials and the associated rise in energy prices, we were able to increase our revenue significantly.” Looking to the rest of 2022, von Achten said
”Although there is still a lot of uncertainty concerning energy and raw material availability and costs, we continue to see strong demand for our products in all regions. In particular, demand for sustainable, low-carbon products is growing rapidly.” 


Japan: Taiheiyo Cement’s consolidated sales declined by 18% in its 2022 financial year, which ended on 31 March 2022, to US$5.51bn from US$6.72bn. The group’s net profit was US$225m, down by 38% from US$364m.

Nikkei Financial Summary News has reported that Japanese cement consumption was 37.9Mt in the 2022 financial year, down by 2% year-on-year.

Greece: Titan Cement recorded consolidated sales of Euro455m in the first quarter of 2022, up by 23% year-on-year from Euro371m in the first quarter of 2021. Due to a 29% increase in its cost of sales to Euro395m from Euro307m, the group’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 17% to Euro46.4m from Euro56.1m.

The producer noted ‘significant’ cement volumes growth in its USA region, including ‘progress’ in its lower carbon footprint cement sales. Titan Cement increased its prices across its regions, and will raise prices again ‘in most markets’ by mid-2022.