Ireland: CRH’s sales revenue rose by 6% year-on-year to Euro26.8bn in 2018 from Euro25.2bn in 2017. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 7% to Euro3.37bn from Euro3.15bn.

“2018 was another year of record profit delivery for CRH. We benefited from good demand and continued favourable market fundamentals in the Americas coupled with positive underlying momentum in Europe. Both were experienced against a backdrop of energy-related input cost inflation and significant weather disruption throughout the year but with a continued focus on performance improvement and operational delivery, margins were ahead of last year,” said group chief executive officer (CEO) Albert Manifold.

The group’s Europe Heavyside division, including European cement production, saw its sales grow by 10% to Euro7.61bn and EBITDA grew by 9% to Euro911m. Positive performances were noted in Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and Poland. However, ‘challenging’ trading conditions were reported in the UK due to rising input costs and uncertainty about its departure from the European Union (EU). The Americas Materials division, which acquired Ash Grove Cement in mid-2018, saw its sales rise by 12% to Euro8.95bn and its EBITDA rise by 18% to Euro1.49bn.