News

Sales volumes of aggregates and ready mixed concrete were 4% higher and asphalt 10% higher in the second quarter of 2015 than the same quarter of 2014.

For the half year to June, sales were also positive in comparison with 2014, with aggregates and concrete 7% higher and asphalt sales 10% higher.

There are nonetheless indications that construction markets may have slowed down temporarily.

CRH has completed the transaction to acquire certain assets from Lafarge and Holcim for a total enterprise value of €6.5 billion, with the exception of the Philippines, which is expected to close in Q3 2015.

“Today we extend a warm welcome to 15,000 new colleagues joining CRH. With their expertise and talent on board, combined with the strength of our existing employee base, CRH is a step closer to achieving our aim of becoming the world’s leading building materials company,” says Albert Manifold, CRH ch

Cemex says that the proceedings formally initiated by the European Commission on December 8, 2010 against Cemex and other companies regarding anti-competitive practices in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, has been closed by the European Commission.

As a result, Cemex is not subject to any fines or penalties resulting from such proceedings.

Cemex says it cooperated with the European Commission throughout the process

In the first half of 2015, turnover for the French building materials supplier Saint-Gobain was up 4.8% to €19.86 billion (US$21.80 billion).

Net income group share was down 16.8% to €558 million following a tax increase on results. Operating income was up 7.8% to €1.3 billion.

In the second quarter 2015, activity in France declined by 3.3% on an organic basis (-4.2% for the first half), and represents the only large zone which has not returned to growth.

Overall, in Q2, sales in volume returned to

In the first half of 2015, turnover for the French industrial minerals specialist Imerys was up 12% (or down 3.9% on a constant currency and perimeter basis) to €2.06 billion.

However, net current income for the group was up 11% to €175 million, due to acquisitions and positive currency effects.

Current operating income amounted to €274 million, with an operating margin of 13.3%, compared with 13.5% a year earlier.

Imerys is expecting solid growth of its net current income in 2015, and while perfor

HeidelbergCement has released its sixth Sustainability Report.

The Sustainability Report 2013/2014 highlights topics and challenges for HeidelbergCement in its drive for sustainable development. Readers also learn about the successes and aims of corporate sustainability management, as well as the company’s activities in the arena of environmental and climate protection, workplace safety and social responsibility.

“Sustainable business practices are a fundamental condition as well as an integral compon

Mexican cement company Cemex has confirmed that it has received an upgrade from Fitch Ratings from 'B+' to 'BB-' due to the conversion of around US$820 million (€746.96 million) of bonds into capital.

Fitch also compensated the refinance of US$8.6 billion of the company’s debt, which has reduced its annual financial expenditure by around US$200 million.

In addition, the new rating included upgrades in the national scale from 'BBB' up to 'A-' and in the short-term national scale from F3 up to F2.

US-based cement producer, Essroc, has concluded the purchase of a 500,000tonnes/year slag cement grinding facility located in Camden, New Jersey.

The Holcim (US) mill was divested to mitigate competition concerns about the merger between Holcim and Lafarge.

The purchase of Camden mill will enable Essroc to offer a more comprehensive product to its clients in the mid-Atlantic and north-east markets.

With the addition of the new plant, total slag cement production capacity of Essroc has increased t

Chinese cement and clinker maker and seller Tangshan Jidong Cement is tol inject CNY 1.09 billion (€159.77 million/US$175.56 million) into its wholly-owned subsidiary Tongchuan Company.

The newly-obtained capital will be spent by China-based Tongchuan Company on loans repayment.

Tongchuan Company generated a loss of CNY 179 million in net profit attributable to shareholders during January-June 2015. It generated a loss of CNY 188 million in net profit in 2014.

In China, total profit of the cement industry during January-June 2015 fell by 61% year-on-year to CNY 13.27 billion (€1.93 billion/US$2.14 billion).

Among the total, the cement industry in the Northwest, Northeast and North China areas generated a loss of CNY 670 million, CNY 289 million and CNY 1.74 billion respectively, while profit of the cement sector in the Southwest, Middle-south and East China areas hit CNY 797 million, CNY 7.46 billion and CNY 7.71 billion respectively.

In June 2015 alone, th

In the first half of 2015, turnover for the Moroccan cement group Ciments du Maroc (Cimar) was up 7.6%, compared with the same period in 2014, to MAD 1.93 billion (€178.90 million/US$196.39 million), despite a 1.3% decline in national consumption.

The performance is being attributed to good sales in the Doukkala-Abda region, which is currently carrying out the construction of the Safi-El Jadida motorway and Safi port.

Consolidated net profit was up 10% to MAD 501 million.

Gross operating income was

Tunisian cement group Ciment de la Méditerranée (CMG) has received authorisation from the Ministry of Industry to develop a clinker production site with a production capacity of 1 million tonnes/year (1.2 million tonnes of grey cement).

The project will require an investment of US$220 million (€200.4 million), with the production site to be located in El Guettar in the governorate of Gafsa.

The project is set to create 300 jobs directly, as well as 1,000 indirect jobs.

CMG counts Ahmed Bouchamaoui

The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved a proposal by Shivam Cement and Hongshi Holding Group of China to invest NPR 36 billion (€319.28 million/US$350.50 million) to build a cement plant with capacity of 6,000tonnes/day.

It is expected that over 2,000 people will be hired during the cement plant's construction.

Reliance Infrastructure Company of India and Dangote Group of Nigeria have also received IBN's approvals to invest in the country.

The finance director of Semen Indonesia (SI), is reported as saying that the state cement company is planning to allocate some US$4.30 billion (€3.88 billion) for its capital expenditures in the next five years.

The allocations are $687.7 million for 2015; $1.28 billion (2016); $1.06 billion (2017); $577.89 million (2018), and US$656 million (2019).

The funding to boost capacity will depend on prevailing market conditions, and the company plans to generate the funding via a combination of bank loans a