Italy: Buzzi Unicem’s net sales rose remained stable at Euro2.14bn in the first nine months of 2018 compared to Euro2.13bn in the same period in 2017. Its cement sales volumes grew by 3.1% to 20.9Mt from 20.3Mt. Its market in the US was strongly affected by unprecedented rainfall, notably in September 2018, and activity in Ukraine was also lower. Net sales in the US dropped by 61% year-on-year to Euro791m in the third quarter of 2018 and sales in Ukraine decreased by 9.7% to Euro63.6m. Sales rose in most other areas, with an emphasis on growth in Italy and Europe.

US: LafargeHolcim plans to build three wind turbines at its Paulding cement plant in Ohio to power the unit. Jamie M Gentoo, chief executive officer (CEO) of US cement operations, said that using distributed wind energy at the plant would be a first for the company in North America.

Constructing turbines will begin in December 2018 in partnership with One Energy. The three Paulding turbines are expected to generate more than 12MkWh/yr and should eliminate the equivalent of more than 9000t/yr of CO₂.

As part of a community outreach project in conjunction with the turbine build, LafargeHolcim will create three US$5000 Megawatt Scholarships (one per turbine for a total of US$15,000/yr) to be awarded each year the turbines are in operation. The Megawatt Scholarships will be awarded annually to local high school graduates pursuing a two-year or four- year STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degree. Additionally, One Energy will pay US$27,000/yr annually in local property taxes.

Greece: Titan Group’s turnover fell by 3.7% year-on-year to Euro1.10bn in the first nine months of 2018 from Euro1.14bn in the same period in 2017. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 8.2% to Euro196m from Euro215m. It attributed this to wet weather on the eastern seaboard of the US. It said that production ‘challenges’ at the group’s Florida operations forced it to increase imports to its terminal at Tampa to meet customer demand, although this lowered its margins.

Egypt: The Egyptian Chemical Industries Company (Kima) plans to sell the land belonging to National Cement within the next year. Chief executive officer (CEO) Emad el-Din Mostafa said that the bankrupt cement producer owns over 300 hectares of land, according to Arab Finance. Selling the assets is part of the Ministry of Public Business Sector’s strategy to pay the former cement producer’s debts including worker salaries. The sale is expected to generate up to US$39m.