Global Cement News

Spain: LafargeHolcim España says it is considering whether to keep its Sagunto cement plant open due to a dispute with the local government over an expansion to its quarry. The Valencian local government is set to block the plans, according to the Expansión newspaper. The cement producer maintains that preventing the expansion of the quarry will damage the plant’s development in the short to medium term.

Zimbabwe: South Africa’s PPC says that its business in Zimbabwe has remained resilient despite the economic ‘challenges’ experienced over the last year. It said that it had kept its pricing in line with inflation and that demand remained ‘strong.’ Its cautionary measures in the country include: keeping 90% of input costs locally sourced; increased exports; continuing clinker imports from South Africa; and share purchases of PPC on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. Previously, PPC reported that growth had been low in Zimbabwe in 2018.

Egypt: Lafarge Egypt has been named as the sole cement supplier for base construction work by China State Construction Engineering (CSCE) for the Central Business District in the New Administrative Capital. The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim will supply its cement based on a framework of the long-term partnership between Lafarge Egypt and CSCEC to erect several high-rise buildings, including a tower that is set to be the tallest in Africa. It will use its Hydrocem Plus cement product for the project. Lafarge Egypt will also take part in the concrete pouring for the foundations.

"We are proud to hold such a long-term cooperation with CSCE for the construction of such a historical project and we value their trust in our products’ quality, which magnifies our capabilities in providing tailored and unique products and solutions to meet our customers' needs. Additionally our capability as a company helped us supply large quantities of cement in a short time which helped complete the pouring in 40 consecutive hours only," said Hussein Mansi, Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Egypt.

Lafarge Egypt is also engaged in a number of projects in the New Administrative Capital project, including different types of concrete products and steel fibres.

Switzerland: LafargeHolcim made a return to a net profit in 2018 as its ongoing cost-cutting program began to take effect. It reported a net profit of Euro1.32bn. Sales rose to Euro24.2bn from Euro23.78bn. In the fourth quarter of 2018 LafargeHolcim said that its recurring earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (REBITDA) edged up to Euro1.47bn from Euro1.43bn.

The company confirmed its outlook from November 2018, in which it said it expected sales growth within the 3-5% range on a like-for-like basis for 2019. It also expects to lift its REBITDA by at least 5%.

Chief Executive Jan Jenisch has been cutting costs and simplifying LafargeHolcim since he took over as CEO in 2017. He said the company's performance had improved during the second half of 2018, adding that he was expecting an acceleration of sales growth and earnings in 2019.

North Macedonia: Cementarnica Usje, part of the Greek Titan Cement group, reported that its non-consolidated net profit fell by 4% year-on-year in 2018 to Euro16.3m. Its total operating revenue edged up to Euro75m in 2018 from Euro74m in 2017. Domestic market sales rose by 3% to Euro47m, while sales abroad fell 3% to Euro24m.