While the Group had substantially higher expenses for energy and raw materials during H1 2022, targeted price adjustments almost offset the significant increase in this business area.
Dr Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement, said that while the Group's Commercial Excellence Programme launched at the end of last year is taking effect, due to the unprecedented increase in energy prices in recent weeks, the second half of the year remains challenging.
"For the full year, we continue to expect a significant increase in revenue, while for the result from current operations, we now anticipate a slight decline on a comparable basis compared to the strong previous year.
"We are making great progress in the area of climate protection. In the first half of the year, we were again able to reduce CO2 emissions beyond our expectations. Our CCUS projects are developing according to plan. I am confident that we will achieve our ambitious climate targets."
After the development of sales volumes in the first quarter of 2022 was almost at the previous year's level, HeidelbergCement's sales volumes declined in the second quarter due to consolidation and the economic slowdown in Europe. Overall, sales volumes in the first half of 2022 were slightly below the previous year's level in all business lines. Group-wide cement and clinker sales volumes decreased by 4.8% to 58.8 million tonnes (previous year: 61.8mn tonnes). Deliveries of aggregates fell slightly by 2.4% in comparison with the previous year to 141.5 million tonnes (previous year: 145mn tonnes). Ready-mixed concrete sales volumes decreased by 4.5% to 22.5 million m³ (previous year: 23.5mn m³). Asphalt deliveries decreased significantly by 25.8% to 3.6 million tonnes (previous year: 4.8mn tonnes).
H1 2022 Group revenue of €9,950 million was a notable 11.3% rise from €8,938 million in H1 2021. Excluding consolidation and exchange rate effects, the increase amounted to 11.6%. This is primarily due to successful price adjustments in all business lines.
Significantly increased expenses for energy, raw materials, and freight led to a decline of 11.4% decline in the result from current operations before depreciation and amortisation (RCOBD) to €1,525 million (previous year: €1,720mn). Excluding consolidation and currency effects, the decrease amounted to 11.8%. The RCOBD margin, i.e. the ratio of the result from current operations before depreciation and amortisation to revenue, decreased by 392 basis points to 15.3% (previous year: 19.2%). The result from current operations decreased by 16.3% to €908 million (previous year: 1,084). Excluding consolidation and exchange rate effects, the decrease was 15.6%.
The profit for the period amounted to €597 million (previous year: €825mn). The profit attributable to HeidelbergCement shareholders amounted to €542 million (previous year: €755mn). Excluding the additional ordinary result, the profit attributable to HeidelbergCement AG shareholders almost reached the previous year's value at €604 million (previous year: €608mn).
Earnings per share attributable to HeidelbergCement AG shareholders adjusted for the additional ordinary result increased by €0.09 to €3.15 (previous year: €3.06).
As a result of the challenging market environment and the significant increase in prices for energy and raw materials compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, there was a cash outflow from operating activities of continuing operations of €133 million (previous year: cash inflow of €158mn) in the first half of 2022. Net debt amounted to €6.8 billion (previous year: €7.5bn) at the end of the first half of 2022. The leverage ratio was 1.85x (previous year: 1.85x) and thus within the target corridor of 1.5x to 2.0x.
René Aldach, Chief Financial Officer of HeidelbergCement, said: "Even though we had to record a declining result in the first half of the year, we were able to further reduce our net debt and expand our financial cushion. With our new syndicated credit line and the bond issuance programme, both of which are now linked to the achievement of our climate targets, we have taken a major step towards sustainable financing. The company's liquidity is secured even in challenging times."
In the first half of 2022, HeidelbergCement reduced the specific CO2 emissions by around 2.5% compared with the end of 2021. In May 2022, HeidelbergCement significantly tightened its CO2 reduction targets at the Capital Markets Day and aims to achieve a value of 400kg CO2/t of cementitious material already in 2030. In addition to optimising products and processes, the company is focusing in particular on the capture, utilisation, and storage of CO2 (CCUS). Solely with CCUS projects that have already been launched, the company aims to save 10mt of CO2 cumulatively by 2030.
The market environment in the construction sector is also being influenced by the negative effects of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its effects. Energy, raw material, and transport prices have risen considerably, especially in recent weeks, and an easing is not expected for the time being.
Against this background, the company continues to expect a strong increase in revenue for the 2022 business year and now anticipates a slight decline in the result from current operations compared to the strong development of the previous year, in each case before consolidation and exchange rate effects.
You can find an overview of HeidelbergCement's sales volumes and financial figures for the first half of 2022 in the half-year financial report 2022 and in the business figures for January to June 2022 under Reports and Presentations (heidelbergcement.com)
