Displaying items by tag: VICAT

France: French multinational cement producer Vicat Group has reported on its cement sales for the three month period to 31 March 2016. A release from the company stated that ‘firm’ activity was observed in all of its regions apart from West Africa, with improvements in France, Egypt and Turkey relative to the prevailing poorer trends seen in 2015. This was buoyed by continued improvements in India and the US.

Vicat reported that its sales increased by 3.3% on a reported basis and by 6.5% at constant scope and exchange rates in the first quarter of 2016 relative to the same period of 2015. Cement sales totalled Euro291m, exactly matching the prior year period in reported terms but 5% up at constant scope and exchange rates. Consolidated sales across all activities came to Euro554m. In terms of cement volumes, the situation was much improved, with a 13.8% rise year-on-year to 4.83Mt.

"Vicat delivered solid growth in its business in the first quarter of the year,” said Vicat’s CEO Guy Sidos. “It is important to remember that sales in France and Turkey were boosted by significantly better weather conditions than in 2015 and are not representative of what can be expected for the full year.”

“The first few months of the year also confirmed the strong momentum in the
Turkish and US markets as well as the upturn in business in France seen since
the second half of 2015,” added Sidos. “In the rest of Europe, sales were up slightly in Switzerland and stable in Italy at a historically low level. In India, the market was boosted by the start of some large infrastructure projects, supporting the group's business in this region. Lastly, West Africa and the Middle East delivered a contrasting performance, with a very sharp pickup in business in Egypt offsetting a decline in West Africa, in particular in Mali and Mauritania.”

In France, Vicat’s sales came to Euro183m, an 8.9% year-on-year improvement. Cement sales in the country were up by 10.9%. In the rest of Europe (excluding France), overall consolidated sales were up marginally to Euro81m and operational sales derived from cement activities were down by 8.6%, although sales in Switzerland rose by 3.8%.

The US saw a 9.5% improvement in consolidated sales across all activities. In the cement sector, sales were markedly up by 18.4% in revenue terms and by 14% in volume terms.

In Vicat’s Asian region, which includes Turkey, India and Kazakhstan, consolidated sales were down by 2.4% year-on-year to Euro115m. Vicat recorded 20.4% growth in cement operational sales and volumes were up by almost 29%. This was, in part, thanks to better weather conditions than in 2015. There was significantly higher growth in the Ankara region of Turkey, boosted by the restart of one kiln and the commissioning of a second. Vicat’s Indian sales came in at Euro68m and Kazakhstan brought in Euro4.7m.

Vicat’s African operations were split in terms of performance. Egypt performed strongly, with consolidated sales of Euro33m, a 14.5% year-on-year rise for the quarter. However, this was not enough to offset a 7.4% fall in sales in West Africa, which restricted regional consolidated sales to Euro96m, a 2.6% fall year-on-year.

France: The Vicat group has today reported that its sales, at constant scope and exchange rates, fell by 4.4% in 2015. Reported sales rose slightly, by 1.5% year-on-year to Euro2.46bn in 2015, compared to Euro2.43bn in 2014. Cement sales fell by 0.4% to Euro1.26bn from Euro1.26bn.

"The sales growth achieved by the Vicat group in 2015 again reflected a contrasting picture from one region to another. Business momentum in the United States and Asia helped to offset the impact of a more challenging macroeconomic and competitive environment in West Africa and the Middle East, as well as in Europe. Notably, the group's activity returned to growth in France in the fourth quarter, helped by a positive weather effect and a stabilising industry environment," said the Group's Chairman and CEO, Guy Sidos.

By region, Vicat noted falls in sales in its cement business in France and Europe.
This decline was blamed on a volume contraction and a slight decrease in average selling prices. Sales in the US grew by 23.6% on a like-for-like basis in 2015 due to high volumes, strong momentum in the south-eastern US and price increases. Sales in Asia grew by 3.1% on a like-for-like basis driven by increases in Turkey and India despite a decrease in Kazakhstan. Notably, Vicat reported that its sales rose in India, despite falling volumes due to price increases. Sales in Africa and the Middle East fell by 16.6% on a like-for-like basis, mainly due to a steep fall in business in Egypt.

Reported sales volumes in cement fell by 3.6% to 19.8Mt in 2015 compared to 20.5Mt in 2014.

France: Vicat's sales in the first nine months of 2015 grew by 1.9% year-on-year to Euro1.88bn. In the third quarter of 2015, its sales grew by 1.7% to Euro640m on a reported basis and declined by 3.7% at constant scope and exchange rates. Vicat reported robust business trends in the US, activity growth in Asia underpinned by Turkey and India, a reduced down-trend in France and lower activity in West Africa and the Middle East.

"Vicat's third-quarter performance still reflects a contrasting picture from one region to another, but there were signs of improvement in certain markets," said Vicat's Chairman and CEO. "Strong increases were recorded in the US and Turkey, while volumes in India returned to growth in a still favourable pricing environment, and, lastly, our production unit in Kazakhstan ran at full capacity in a market nevertheless affected by a strong currency devaluation. In France, the shortfall compared with 2014 declined significantly in the cement business over the past quarter and the market currently appears to be gradually stabilising at an historically low level for French cement consumption. Against this backdrop, Vicat remains focused on its objectives of maximising its cash flow and reducing its debt, while leveraging the efficiency of its manufacturing facilities, its geographical diversification and its strong positions in its local markets."

Kazakhstan: The Kazakh Vice Minister of Investment and Development of Kazakhstan Albert Rau has met with President of Vicat Group Guy Sidos and honorary president of the group Jacques Merceron-Vicat to discuss the operation and possible extension of Vicat's existing production plant at Zhambyl. The meeting also announced the construction of a US$10m terminal in Astana in 2016. The terminal will also act as a packing plant, research and testing centre.

Turkey: Loesche has delivered and is currently installing a LM 45.4 raw meal mill ordered by Vicat Service Technique Ciment for Bastas Baskent Çimento in Elmadag in May 2014.

The Loesche LM 45.4 vertical roller mill will grind 260t/hr cement raw meal at a product fineness of 16% R90μm. The installed drive power is 2100kW. Loesche's scope of supply includes weigh feeders, apron feeders, magnetic separators, metal detectors, shut-off and control flaps, vibrating conveyors, a bucket elevator and expansion joints. The commissioning of the new mill is scheduled for the third quarter of 2015.

France: Vicat's total sales rose by 6% year-on-year to Euro2.42bn in 2014 from Euro2.29bn in 2013. Cement sales rose by 13.7% to Euro1.26bn. The French building materials manufacturer attributed the growth to markets in Asia and improvement in the US and Egypt.

By region, cement sales fell by 4.4% year-on-year in France to Euro356m with an increased decline seen in the fourth quarter of 2014. This was blamed on a slowdown in the construction sector. In the rest of Europe cement sales declined less sharply by 5% to Euro174m. In the US cement sales rose by 16.7% to Euro114m. In Asia, including Turkey, India and Kazakhstan, sales rose by 20% to Euro466m. In Africa and the Middle East cement sales rose by 23% to Euro374m.

India: Sagar Cements is planning to acquire BMM Cements, which has a 1Mt/yr cement factory and a 25MW captive power plant in Andhra Pradesh. Sagar intends to use the US$70.5m it has raised by selling a 47% stake in France's Vicat for the acquisition.

India: Sagar Cements has completed the sale of its 47% stake in its joint venture company, Vicat Sagar Cement. Sagar had earlier obtained approval from the shareholders through postal ballot for the sale. Sagar and Vicat entered into the joint venture in June 2008 with the objective of setting up a 5.5Mt/yr cement plant in Gulbarga, Karnataka. The first phase of the plant, which was to reach a production capacity of 2.75Mt/yr, was completed in December 2012. Production commenced in January 2013.

France: Vicat Group's financial results for the first half of 2014 show consolidated sales of Euro1.22bn, a 6.1% improvement over the same period of 2013 and 10.8% higher at constant scope and exchange rates. Vicat's cement sales were up by 17.1% at constant scope and exchange rates.

The group's consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) came to Euro208m, an increase of 3.1% in absolute terms and an increase of 8.8% at constant scope and exchange rates.

The cement sector remains Vicat's most important activity, accounting for 53.5% of income as opposed to 53.4% in the first half of 2013. Vicat highlighted that continued growth in India, West Africa and the USA, a return to growth in Egypt and favourable winter weather conditions in mainland Europe (especially France and Switzerland) helped drive its increased sales. It noted a fall in volumes in Turkey but this was partially offset by increased sales prices in that country.

"Over the first half, Vicat saw strong growth in business volumes and operating profit," states the group report. "Nearly all regions contributed to this performance, particularly Egypt which saw a return to growth, India, which saw significant progress despite continued competitive pressures and the USA, which is once again generating positive operating profits. In France, despite a promising first quarter helped by good weather conditions, performances were down slightly, due to a persistently unfavourable macroeconomic and sector conditions."

India: Vicat Group has purchased Sagar Cements' stake in Vicat Sagar Cement for US$72m, subject to customary conditions precedents. After this transaction, Vicat will own 100% of Vicat Sagar Cement. Together with the share purchase, the two groups will untie all their ownership links.

Vicat Sagar Cement operates a cement plant in North Karnataka with a cement production capacity of 3Mt/yr. The plant includes its own captive power plant and access to the rail network. Vicat's India operations, comprising Bharathi Cement and Vicat Sagar Cement, include two cement plants with a total production capacity of 8Mt/yr.

In 2013 Vicat reported sales of US$210m in India, a rise of 12.7% year-on-year. In the first quarter of 2014, sales in India rose by 27.2%.