Quarry Products

The UK has the world’s largest marine aggregates industry, supplying some 20% of the sand and gravel used in England and Wales, according to the Crown Estate.

The organisation says its leasing programme for the marine aggregates sector includes the delivery of high quality aggregate to the construction industry, realising over £15 million in income (€16.6 million/US$18.25 million) in 2015/16. While construction is the biggest use for aggregates, marine aggregates are used in beach replenishment schemes.

HeidelbergCement has released its its preliminary, unaudited figures for sales volumes, revenue, operating income before depreciation (OIBD), and operating income for the fourth quarter and the whole of 2016.

“The year 2016 was an important milestone for HeidelbergCement,” says Dr Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the managing board.

“With the acquisition of Italcementi, we made a big leap in growth and achieved the best operating income since the financial crisis. The integration of Italcementi is well un

In its annual report for 2016 FLSmidth says it saw positive momentum in service orders in the second half of 2016, while revenue was above and EBITA margin within guidance for 2016. The company says debt was significantly reduced on the back of strong operating cash flow; revenue and EBITA margin in 2017 is expected to be at a level similar to 2016, and Q4 2016 saw the highest quarterly revenue in two years.

“After a weak first half, activity picked up, finishing the year on a strong note. Rising commodi

A Cemex subsidiary in the US has closed the divestment of its Fairborn, Ohio, cement plant and cement terminal in Columbus, Ohio to a subsidiary of Eagle Materials, for approximately US$400 million (€375 million).

The proceeds obtained from the transaction will be used mainly for debt reduction and for general corporate purposes.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch acted as financial advisor to Cemex in this transaction.

South Africa-based Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) saw its sales in the nine months to 31 December 2016 rise 4% year-on-year. Further company trading figures have revealed that PPC's units in Botswana, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe all recorded a 9% sales volume increase. PPC’s 9% sales volume growth in Zimbabwe has been supported by a new US$82 million production facility in the country’s capital, Harare.

LafargeHolcim has launched a plan to scale up its access to innovative construction solutions through collaborating with entrepreneurs. The Start-Up Accelerator will offer young companies on-site accommodation and the use of the facilities at the Group’s Research & Development Center in Lyon, France, to develop, test, and market their solutions in construction and urban planning.

The Start-Up Accelerator project is building on LafargeHolcim’s existing experience of working with start-ups in areas that i

Mexican cement giant Cemex has posted a tenfold year-on-year increase in its net income for 2016. The company’s net income reached US$750 million in 2016, compared to $75 million in 2015. It represents Cemex’s highest annual net income generation since 2007.

Meanwhile, Cemex’s operating EBITDA increased on a like-to-like basis by 15% during the full year versus 2015, while EBITDA margin increased 1.7% in the same period. The firm’s EBITDA and EBITDA margin were the highest achieved since 2008 and 2007, r

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) says higher mineral products demand in Great Britain through 2016, and particularly in the last quarter, indicates momentum in construction activity at the start of 2017. Mineral products are by far the largest element of the construction supply chain and the MPA’s latest sector results provide a contrasting view to the more subdued official construction statistics.

Sales volumes of ready-mixed concrete (RMC) in Great Britain improved by 4% compared to 2015, matche

Hanson is investing €70 million in two new 3,000m³ capacity trailing suction hopper dredgers for its marine aggregate fleet. They will be the first new aggregate dredgers to be commissioned by Hanson in the UK for more than 25 years.

Hanson UK chief executive Daniel Cooper said: “This significant investment is the first step in a strategic replacement programme for our existing fleet of eight dredgers which deliver marine aggregates into a network of wharves in both the UK and continental Europe. It is