Global Cement News

India: HeidelbergCement India’s sales rose by 11.9% year-on-year to US$222m in the nine months to 31 December 2018 from US$202m in the same period in 2017. Its expense increased by 3.5% to US$193m from US$186m. Its net profit nearly doubled to US$22.6m. The cement producer reported a strong third quarter of its 2017 – 2018 financial year due to improved construction activity in central India.

India: Gujarat Sidhee Cement’s revenue grew by 2.3% year-on-year to US$57.5m in the nine months to 31 December 2018 from US$56.2m in the same period in 2017. It made a loss of US$1.66m compared to a profit of US$1.87m previously. Its costs rose by 13% to US$62m from US$55m, in part due to the cost of raw materials.

Peru: Cementos Pacasmayo’s sales rose in 2018 due to higher sales to medium-sized companies, the self-construction sector and the public sector. The cement producer said that this was the first year it had reported growth after five years of ‘flat’ volumes. Its sales rose by 3.5% year-on-year to US$379m from US$366m. Cement production increased by 2.6% to 2.35Mt from 2.29Mt and clinker production increased by 4.7% to 1.72Mt from 1.64Mt. Its consolidated earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 14.7% to US$112 from US$97.2m.

UAE: Arkan Building Materials has sold the closed Emirates Cement plant for US$13.6m, according to Mubasher. The unit was originally closed in late 2016 on a temporary basis due to rising gas and electricity costs. It later decided to permanently close the plant. The company continues to run its Al Ain Cement plant.

US: Port Manatee in Florida has received its first shipment of raw materials for cement production. The Osprey I delivered 47,650t of raw materials from Europe as part of a deal with Carver Companies to renovate the port. As part of the agreement arranged in mid-2018, Carver has renovated a 7.5 hectare cargo facility with deep-water access, including the rehabilitation a 425m conveyor system on the leased site.