Quarry Products

Analysts from Attijari Intermédiation have predicted a strong 2015 for Ciments du Maroc (CIMAR), largely due to an expected boost in demand for cement in the south and south-centre regions affected by floods. The company's financial position will also benefit from reduced energy costs (notably petcoke) as well as a net appreciation of its stake in Suez Cement to around €346 million/US$ 392.33 million. The non-recurrence of its 2014 maintenance programme means that the company’s gross operating margin is pro

The Board of Directors at French cement giant Lafarge has decided to fix the company’s proposed 2015 ordinary dividend at €1.27 per share. The raised adjustment aims at equalising dividends to be paid by Lafarge and Holcim based on the dividend announced today by Holcim in accordance with the Combination Agreement between Lafarge and Holcim signed on July 7 2014. In the context of the two companies’ planned merger, the Board of Directors also decided to propose an acceleration of the payment date of the Laf

Four Holcim US projects received recognition during the World of Concrete conference at the 2015 Triad Awards in Las Vegas. The 2015 Triad Award winner was Pena Boulevard Concrete Paving with Envirocore project's complex coordination and state-of-the-art design allowed the main roadway into the bustling Denver International Airport to remain open while the project was executed. This project required thoughtful planning as the existing concrete pavement had severe alkali-silica reactivity damage, and the air

Vulcan Materials' non-executive chairman Don James is said to be stepping down as chairman of the board of America’s largest producer of construction aggregates by the end of 2015. US media have reported that he has told shareholders of his intentions which have then been recorded on a filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. James became chairman of Birmingham, Alabama-headquartered Vulcan Materials in 1997 and became non-executive chairman in January 2015 when he retired as an employee of

Indonesian cement makers Semen Indonesia and Holcim Indonesia have seen their share prices decline by a minimum of 14% from their July 2014 peak after the country’s president, Joko Widodo, announced that state-run cement makers will reduce their prices. The government instructed state-run cement makers to reduce their prices by IDR 3,000 (€0.20 US$ 0.23) a bag on 16 January 2015. The duration of the reduction or details of the method are still to be revealed. The share price of Indocement Tunggal Perkasa al

An unfavourable currency effect of 5.2% and negative changes in consolidation structure impacted on Swiss cement giant Holcim’s consolidated 2014 net sales which fell 3.1% to €17.873 billion (CHF 19.11 billion) (up like-for-like 3%). Holcim’s consolidated operating EBITDA was down 3.8% to €3.504 billion (CHF 3.747 billion) (up like-for-like 5.5%) mainly as a result of negative currency effects and merger and restructuring related costs. In 2014, consolidated operating profit was down 1.7% in 2014, at €2.167

Marmomacc, said to be the most important international event dedicated to the natural stone sector, will be among the major players at FuoriSalone 2015 during the Digital Lithic Design Show as part of the Energy for Creativity exhibition-event organised by Interni Magazine at the University of Milan and Orto Botanico di Brera from 13 April-24 May 2015. The theme of Expo Milan 2015, Energy for Life, is developed here in a design, urban and architectural key.

In Tunisia, Mostafa Hamrouni, chairman of the national chamber of cement manufacturers, says that cement producers will take certain steps to keep cement prices under control. Hamrouni’s statement comes amidst rising production costs and is said to be focused on protecting consumer purchasing power. The senior cement manufacturers’ figure also suggested that consumers may want to buy directly from producers in order to pay a better price for their cement.