Quarry Products

The board of Pakistan's Lucky Cement is reported to be about to announce a recommendation to its shareholders to inject US$202.9 million (PKR 20 billion) into developing a 660 MW coal-based power plant. To be located in Karachi, the plant will be held by a new entity named Lucky Power, indirectly 75% held by Lucky Cement through its subsidiary Lucky Holdings (LHL). The total project bill is estimated at US$1.08bn, to be financed with debt and equity at an estimated 75:25 ratio.

Cemex say improved trade in the US, Mediterranean, South America, Central America, the Caribbean and Asia , and the higher price of its products in local currency terms in most of its operations, has led to the Mexican building material giant’s 4% increase to US$4.2 billion in Q2 2014 consolidated net sales, compared to the same period of 2013.

With controlling interest net income at $76 million in the quarter, Cemex posted its first quarterly profit since 2009. Cemex’s operating EBITDA increased year-

The MPA (Mineral Products Association) and its members have been taking significant action on a key recommendation in the UK House of Commons Transport Committee Cycling Safety report relating to Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), published today.

One of the Committee’s recommendations (16) calls on the freight industry to “create a culture of safety among HGVs” and requests “the establishment of a timetable for the development of an industry-wide code of conduct”. In support of this, MPA had already launched

The recovery of the UK construction market is said to be the key behind Breedon Aggregates reporting a 25% increase in sales in the opening six months of 2014, compared to the same period previous year. Pre-tax profits rose from €6.71 million to €11.89 million, while turnover rose from €126.79 million to €158.43 million. Aggregate sales were 3.6 million tonnes, against 2.7 million last time, with asphalt sales up from 0.6 million to 0.7 million tonnes. Ready-mixed concrete sales rose from 283,000m³ to 326,0

Saudi Cement posted a net profit of €56.58 million (SAR 288 million) in Q2 2014, down 6.2% year-on-year. However, this figure is higher than the €53.66 million (SAR 272.7 million) forecast by six Reuters-polled industry analysts.

Egypt minister of investment Ashraf Salman said the government is planning is planning to issue licenses to build cement plants when two planned economic stimulus packages worth €6.62 billion are implemented. He said investors that are able to import gas and set up power plants can apply for the permits, with the government determining the areas where the plants can be built.

Sagar Cements has sold its interest in Vicat Sagar Cement to French construction materials group Vicat. Vicat Sagar Cement is an India-based joint venture between Sagar and Vicat. Vicat now holds 100% of capital in Vicat Sagar Cement. Vicat Sagar Cement operates a cement works with an annual production capacity of 3 million tonnes. Along with its interest in Bharati Cement, Vicat controls cement production of 8 million tonnes/year in India. Vicat generated turnover of €155 million in the country in 2013, up

Chinese cement firm Shan Zho is planning to set up a cement plant with a capacity of over 1 million tonnes/year of products in Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous area. The project is being valued at up to €442.12 million, with the government of the autonomous area said to be willing to grant benefits to it.

Currently, Tajikistan has two large cement plants: Tajikcement (1.1 million tonnes/year) and Tajik-Chinese joint venture Huaxin Gayur Cement (1 million tonnes/year).

Cement consumption in Spain is expected to fall 3% to 10.4 million tonnes during 2014, according to new Oficemen figures. However, the same source believes domestic consumption will grow in 2015. Demand for cement across Spain should be around 20-25 million tonnes/year, says Oficemen.

Italian marble and stone specialist Stone Italia saw a €34 million turnover in 2013 and expects this to increase by 10% in 2014, with exports increasing to account for 65% of total turnover. Stone Italia has signed a contract with Kuwait City University which will see the former providing the latter with 94,500m² of flooring. The firm has also signed contracts with Avia Park in Moscow, Russia and Tawar Mall in Doha, Qatar. These two contracts have a combined value of €8mn. The contracts signed in the Middle