Displaying items by tag: Switzerland

Switzerland: Holcim reported stable net sales of €5.89bn in the first quarter of 2025, down by 0.8% year-on-year from €5.93bn. North America recorded a good start to the year despite unfavourable weather conditions, while Latin America delivered further profitable growth, driven by an 8% rise in local currency. Europe continued strong recurring EBIT growth and margin expansion, and Asia, Middle East and Africa recorded double-digit recurring EBIT growth, led by North Africa. Holcim expects the good momentum to continue with strong demand in North Africa, a positive outlook in Australia and price recovery in China.

Net sales of its low-carbon ECOPlanet cement represented 29% of cement sales, up from 26% year-on-year. Holcim said it is “well-positioned to navigate the current economic uncertainty” and confirmed its 2025 guidance of mid-single digit net sales growth in local currency.

Switzerland: Cement deliveries rose by 1% year-on-year to 0.79Mt in the first quarter of 2025, continuing the upward trend seen in the final quarter of 2024, according to Cemsuisse. It attributed the slight recovery to lower interest rates and rising construction applications in the residential sector, but stated that the coming months would indicate whether the current economic uncertainty will affect activity. In the quarter, 36% of deliveries were made by rail and 64% by road.

Switzerland/US: Holcim has appointed the designated executive leadership team for its planned Amrize spin-off company in the US. Jan Jenisch will be the new company’s chair and CEO and Ian Johnston will be the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Other roles include: Jaime Hill as President of Building Materials; Jake Gosa as President of Building Envelope; Nollaig Forrest as Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer; Steve Clark as Chief People Officer; Denise Singleton as Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary; Sam Poletti, Chief Strategy and M&A Officer; Mario Gross as Chief Supply Chain Officer; and Roald Brouwer as Chief Technology Officer.

Jenisch has been a member of the board of directors of Holcim since 2021 and has worked as its chair since 2023 and as its CEO from 2017 to 2024. Before joining Holcim, Jenisch was the CEO of Sika from 2012 to 2017.
Johnston currently serves as CFO for Holcim North America. Prior to this he held the same role for the business in the US and Canada.

Jenisch said “Our leadership team includes key Holcim leaders who have played instrumental roles in the success of our business, as well as new leaders from top US companies with strong North American market expertise.”

Switzerland: Holcim has announced its 2024 financial results, reporting record performance with full-year net sales of €28.2bn and an operating profit of €4.9bn. The company increased its use of recycled construction demolition materials by 20% to 10.2Mt. The planned listing of its North American business remains on track for completion by the end of the first half of 2025.

Holcim's net sales in the cement sector reached €14bn. In North America, net sales were €6.8bn despite challenging market conditions. Latin America achieved its 18th consecutive quarter of profitable growth, with net sales of €3bn. During the year, there were four acquisitions to enter the new market of Peru and expand operations in Mexico and Guatemala. The Asia, Middle East and Africa region reported net sales of €3.85bn, driven by growth in Australia and North Africa, alongside four divestments completed in 2024. The Solutions and Products sector continued its profitable growth, with net sales of €6.3bn, primarily due to increased sales of its advanced roofing systems. Sustainable building solutions contributed to profitable growth in Europe, with net sales of €7.7bn

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Holcim's net sales were €6.9bn, a 1.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The company remains optimistic about 2025, with a strong outlook across all business segments.

US: Holcim’s CEO Miljan Gutovic says he does not expect any effects of proposed US tariffs upon his company. "I don't really see any impact, because our business is a local business (in the US)," said Gutovic in an interview with Reuters. "We are producing locally, we are sourcing the equipment, the spare parts locally, so how is this going to affect us? I do not see it." He added that the proposed tariffs were also unlikely to pose any problems to the group’s planned spin-off of its business in the US. The listing of its North America-based business is remains scheduled for the first half of 2025.

The US government proposed tariffs upon imported goods from Canada and Mexico in early February 2025 but these have been paused for one month. Tariffs on China are set to start on 4 February 2025. US President Donald Trump has also spoken about implementing tariffs on the EU.

Switzerland: Cement deliveries declined by 4.6% year-on-year to 3.6Mt in 2024, impacted by slow economic recovery, uncertainty and high energy prices, according to industry association Cemsuisse.

However, the fourth quarter of 2024 showed a 2.1% year-on-year increase in deliveries to 0.89Mt, reportedly driven by declining inflation and low interest rates, with Cemsuisse stating that it is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about 2025. The proportion of cement types with reduced clinker content rose to almost 97% from just under 96% in 2023. The proportion of cement transported by rail fell slightly to 37.4% from 37.6% in 2023.

Switzerland/US: Holcim is progressing towards the planned listing of its North American business and has designated its future board members. The board will comprise 10 members and will become effective following the execution of the spin-off, expected in the first half of 2025, subject to shareholder and customary approvals.

Jan Jenisch, current chair of Holcim and its former CEO from 2017 to 2024, has been designated chair and CEO of the new business. Jenisch will remain Holcim’s chair until the Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2025.

The Board will include nine independent directors: Theresa Drew, Nicholas Gangestad, Dwight Gibson, Holli Ladhani, Michael McKelvy, Jürg Oleas, Robert Rivkin, Katja Roth Pellanda, and Cristina Wilbur.

Switzerland: Holcim Trading & Shipping has appointed Dost Wardak as its CEO. He succeeds Céline Coimbra in the role.

Wardak started working for Holcim Trading & Shipping in 2021 as Head of Region EMEA. Prior to this he worked for LafargeHolcim’s trading subsidiary as a trading manager from 2015. He also worked as a Business Intelligence Manager for Cementia Trading in the early 2010s. Earlier in his career held analyst positions with Lafarge.

US/Switzerland: Holcim has made progress on the capital market separation of its North American business, planning a 100% spin-off to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. An additional listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange is planned for European investors. The spin-off is subject to shareholder approval at the Holcim Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2025 and expects to occur by the end of the first half of 2025, subject to customary approvals.

Switzerland: ABB has launched a white paper outlining the challenges the global cement industry must tackle to decarbonise operations in line with global emissions reduction targets and the role technology will play in this.

The white paper is supported by industry associations and, in it, ABB details a technology roadmap for potential solutions to achieve net-zero targets. It combines insights from a range of key industry players - including customers, technology partners, industry media and associations - along with ABB’s commercial specialisation. It details the benefits of advanced electrification used in tandem with technologies adopted through industry collaborations. The white paper also includes discussions around how sustainable cement could be defined, as well as practical advice as to what steps producers can immediately take in their decarbonisation journey. Electrification is identified as a major component in the decarbonisation of the cement industry, with the ability to replace fossil fuel burners with electrified, or zero-carbon, solutions. These are predicted to help significantly reduce emissions in line with industry ambitions.

ABB sells products in the electrification and automation sectors. Its Process Automation business automates, electrifies and digitalises industrial operations that address a wide range of essential needs. Its products are marketed to help customers in process, hybrid and maritime industries improve performance and safety of operations.

The full white paper can be accessed online here: https://new.abb.com/cement/campaigns/cementing-a-sustainable-future