Dominik von Achten, chairman of the managing board, said that the very good first quarter confirms the group's optimistic outlook for 2021.
“We expect continued strong demand in private residential construction and infrastructure in all regions," said von Achten. "In particular, the stimulus programmes launched by many governments to support the economic recovery are likely to have a positive impact on construction activity and thus on our sales in the short and medium term.”
Group revenue increased by 0.7% in the first quarter to €3,958m, compared with €3,930m in Q1 2020.
The group's cement and clinker sales volumes increased by 2.4% to 28.4m tonnes in Q1, compared with 27.7m tonnes in Q1 2020.
HeidelbergCement says that volume losses in Northern and Eastern Europe-Central Asia and North America were more than offset by increases in sales volumes in the group areas Asia-Pacific, Africa-Eastern Mediterranean Basin and, in particular, Western and Southern Europe.
Deliveries of aggregates increased by 2.0% year-on-year to 61.3 million tonnes (previous year: 60.1m tonnes). While volumes rose in North America, Asia-Pacific and above all in Western and Southern Europe, they significantly decreased in Northern and Eastern Europe-Central Asia as well as in Africa-Eastern Mediterranean Basin.
Ready-mixed concrete sales volumes increased by 1.2% to 10.8m cubic metres (previous year: 10.7m cubic metres). While deliveries in Western and Southern Europe were significantly higher and in North America and Africa-Eastern Mediterranean slightly above the previous year's level, sales volumes in Northern and Eastern Europe-Central Asia and Asia-Pacific decreased. Asphalt deliveries increased by 11.5% to 2.0m tonnes (previous year: 1.8m tonnes).
HeidelbergCement says it expects a slight increase in revenue and result from current operations before consolidation and currrency effects in 2021.
