India: Ramco Cements’ earnings and profits fell in the six months to the end of September 2018 as fuel and raw material costs rose. Its net profit after tax fell by 26% year-on-year to US$32.6m from US$44.2m in the same period in September 2017. Revenue rose by 15% to US$329m and sales volumes of cement rose by 18% to 50.8Mt. The cement producer said that sales in Kerala had been adversely affected by bad weather in the most recent quarter.
Saudi Cement’s sales fall by 5.8% to US$217m so far in 2018
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Cement’s sales revenue fell by 5.8% to US$217m in the first nine months of 2018 from US$231m in the same period in 2017. Its net profit after tax decreased by 20% to US$73.5m from US$92.2m. The cement producer has blamed falling sales, rising costs and an increase in Islamic finance charges for its declining profits.
Indocement operating income down so far in 2018
Indonesia: Indocement’s sales revenue rose by 2% year-on-year to US$713m in the first nine months of 2018 from US$696m in the same period in 2017. However, its operating income fell by nearly a third to US$35m from US$97m. The subsidiary of Germany’s HeidlebergCement reported that its cost of sales rose in the reporting period.
CNBM’s revenue rises by 21.5% to US$22.5bn so far in 2018
China: China National Building Material’s (CNBM) revenue rose by 21.5% year-on-year to US$22.5bn in the first nine months of 2018 from US$18.5bn in the same period in 2017. Its net profit nearly doubled to US$1.7bn from US$956m.
