Austrian aggregates stabilisation

Lafarge has reported sales in the first three months of the year were down 10% on the same period last year at €3.2billion. Nonetheless, the company has said that the results for the first quarter traditionally reflect the seasonality and are not indicative of the full year. The company also pointed out that earnings from aggregates and concrete stabilised during the period, offsetting declines int eh cement and gypsum divisions.

Demand for construction materials in emerging markets and stable volume development have been cited by Holcim for the 5% rise in turnover in the first nine months of the year. Sales reached CHF16.5billion during the period, up from CHF15.7billion in the same period last year. The company has recorded this growth for the full nine months despite a 0.5% decline in sales during the third quarter, which was blamed on economic and seasonal influences negatively impacting on the business.

CRH has reported full year sales of €17.17billion for 2010, down just 1% from the previous year, although EBITDA has dropped 10% to €1.61billion for 2010. Nonetheless, CRH chief executive Myles Lee describes last three months of 2010 as a stabilisation. "Overall demand across the Group appears to have stabilised in the past three months and, assuming no major market dislocations, we believe that it is reasonable to look forward to like-for-like revenue growth for 2011 as a whole,.” He said.

Increased sales of cement, aggregates and ready mixed concrete have helped Heidelberg Cement to record a 12.6% rise in turnover in the third quarter of this year. The company has recorded sales of €3.4billion, up from €3billion in the same period last year.