Quarry Products

Nigeria's cement company, Ashaka Cement has garnered NGN 21.13 billion (€98.47 million/US$106.05 million) in revenue in 2014, down 2.58% year-on-year. Its profit before tax, on the other hand, surged 84.5% to NGN 5.25 billion.

Announced during an investment forum organised by CGEM to boost development in Moroccan controlled Western Sahara, the Anouar cement works in El Aaiún (Laâyoune) is set to receive an investment of MAD 250 million (€23.38 million/US$25.10 million).

Brazilian cement company Votorantim Cimentos has announced plans to invest a further BRL 5 billion (€1.46 billion/US$1.57 billion) between 2015 and 2018, following the conclusion of its BRL 10 billion investment plan between 2007 and 2014.
The majority of the new funds will go to the construction of new factories in Brazil, with a view to the long term cement market which is expected to recover from the current reduction in consumption.
The new investment plan also covers further expansion of operations a

Buzzi Unicem, the Italian building materials manufacturer, posted a €120.50 million net profit in 2014 from a €43.2 million loss posted in 2013.

Revenues fell 0.1% to €2.51 billion, while EBITDA grew 4.8% to €423 million and by 10.2% at current exchange rates on a like-for-like basis.

The company's net debt dropped by €34.5 million to € 1.06 billion, while Buzzi Unicem's parent company registered a €36.6 million net loss from a €119.6 million loss posted in the previous year.

As part of its integration plan, Kuwait-based ACICO Cement will roll out new production lines for key construction materials, including white and interlocking cement.

The new lines will help the company meet growing demand from the local market. No further details are yet available.

Lafarge and Holcim have received clearance from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for their proposed merger.
A package of asset divestments has been agreed with the CCI which includes one cement plant (Sonadih cement plant) and one grinding station (Jojobera grinding station) from Lafarge (with a total of approximately 5 million tonnes annual cement capacity) in Eastern India.
India is an important market for the future LafargeHolcim Group with a balanced portfolio in cement, aggregates, and read

Following improvements in the British and Irish construction sectors, Ireland-based producer of bricks Lagan Brick will re-open a plant in Kingscourt in County Cavan, creating 30 new jobs in the area.

The company said brick manufacturing is anticipated to start at the new facility over the summer of 2015.

While 20 of the jobs will be generated immediately, ten will be created when the second kiln is in operation to achieve the company’s aim of having extra capacity of 8 million bricks in the long ru

Mexican cement company Cemex has invested close to US$250 million (€229.69 million) in efforts to replace fossil fuels with alternative energy sources over 2009-2014.

This has generated estimated recurring savings of US$130 million/year, depending on the cost of fossil fuels, and according to sustainability director Vicente Saiso, the business is generating 25% of its local consumption and 14% on a global level.

The group has also created Cemex Energia, a new division for the development of renewable