Canada: Residents at Port-Daniel-Gascons in Quebec reported dust emissions from the McInnis Cement plant in June and July 2020. This has been blamed on mechanical breakdowns and a computer failure, according to the Journal de Québec newspaper. The cement producer says it has reported the situation to the local authorities. Commercial production at the plant started in mid-2017. The incidents reportedly took place as the plant reached its maximum production capacity.

Thailand: Profits have risen at Siam City Cement due to cost cutting initiatives and lower energy prices despite disruption caused by government-related coronavirus responses. It also mothballed a kiln at its Saraburi plant in May 2020 to, “optimise resources and capacities corresponding to demand contraction across the region.” The group’s net sales fell by 10.9% year-on-year to US$679m in the first half of 2020 from US$792m in the same period in 2019. Its net profit rose by 6.2% to US$59.2m from US$55.8m.

France: Falls in sales in India, France and Italy since the end of the first quarter of 2020 have negatively affected Vicat’s half year results. However, it noted a rebound at the end of the period, particularly in France, and reported earnings growth in the US and Brazil. Its consolidated sales fell by 2.7% year-on-year to Euro1.30bn in the first half of 2020 from Euro1.34bn in the same period in 2019. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased by 6.7% to Euro213mm.

“We kept our production activities running at almost all our sites to keep pace with market trends and seize any commercial opportunities by remaining close to our customers, which has helped to mitigate the impact of the crisis,” said Guy Sidos, the group’s chairman and chief executive officer (CEO). He added that, “In this unprecedented environment, visibility on our full-year performance remains limited.”

US: Eagle Materials says it has sold over 2Mt of cement in a single quarter for the first time in its history. Sales volumes rose by 35% to 2.09Mt in the first quarter of its financial year to 30 June 2020 from 1.6Mt in the same period in 2019. Sales revenue from its Heavy Materials division grew by 35% to US$274m from US$203m.

“While we are very pleased with our first-quarter performance, we recognise a high level of uncertainty persists in our markets and the overall economy: despite the decline in jobless claims from the March peak, total unemployment remains historically high; state and local governments face ongoing revenue pressure, which could have the potential to constrain infrastructure budgets; and, in some geographic areas important to our business, Covid-19 case numbers continue to escalate,” said Michael Haack, president and chief executive officer (CEO).

The group announced plans in May 2019 to split its Heavy Materials and Light Materials divisions into two independent businesses. However, it says the timing remains ‘uncertain.’