Global Cement News

UAE: Fujairah Cement Industries Co (FCIC) has reported a decline of 9% in its profits for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the same period a year ago. Earnings decreased to about US$2.7m in the fourth quarter of 2017 from US$3.0m in the fourth quarter of 2016.

During the 2017 fiscal year, the cement producer posted a drop of 35% in its profit to US$10.1m compared to US$15.4m in 2015. This was in part due to a 7% decrease in revenue and higher general and administrative expenses, which rose by 29% to US$6.4m.

Italy: The Board of Directors of Buzzi has approved the preliminary accounts for 2017, which see sales of cement at 26.8Mt, an increase of 4.4%, and consolidated revenues of Euro2.67bn, an increase of 5.1% year-on-year.

In Italy, Buzzi’s position benefited from the takeover of Zillo Group, which helped to raise clinker and cement volumes by 19.3%. However, average selling prices were down ‘siginificantly’ year-on-year. Overall consolidated sales were up by 14.0% year-on-year at Euro428m. Consolidated sales would have increased by 2% in the absence of the Zillo acquisition.

In Germany, cement sales were up by 4.5%, with total sales of Euro588m, a 2.7% year-on-year rise. In Luxembourg and the Netherlands, cement sales were also up by 4.5% year-on-year at Euro187m.

Sales were also improved in Poland (+0.7%), Czechia (+8.2%), Russia (+1.5%), the USA (+0.2%) and Mexico (12.7%), while they declined in Ukraine (-1.5%).

UAE: National Cement Company (NCC) has reported a decline in its profit to US$14.59m in the full year 2017 from US$24.24m in 2016. Revenues also fell to US$55.77m from US$64.11m.

Brazil: According to data from Brazil's national cement industry union SNIC, domestic cement sales in January 2018 were down by 0.1% compared to January 2017, at 4.33Mt. However, average sales per working day increased by 0.2% in the same comparison. Apparent consumption in the period stood at 4.4Mt, down by 0.5% from January 2017. The results for the period were in line with SNIC's expectations, with sales forecast to drop in the first quarter 2018, before seeing growth in the second quarter 2018.

In the 12 months ending January 2018 domestic sales saw an accumulated 6.2% drop, in comparison with the previous 12 month period, at 53.77Mt. SNIC forecasts a 1-2% increase in cement sales in 2018.

US: Eagle Materials has reported its financial results for the third quarter of the 2018 fiscal year, which ended on 31 December 2017. It recorded record revenues of US$359.4m, a rise of 19% compared to the same period of the 2017 fiscal year

Third quarter gross profit improved by 8%, reflecting the financial results of the recently acquired cement plant in Fairborn, Ohio and related assets (the Fairborn Business) and improved net sales prices across most of Eagle’s businesses. Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Cement revenues for the third quarter, including joint venture and intersegment revenues, totalled US$161.6m, 17% higher than the same quarter last year. Total cement sales volumes for the quarter were 1.3Mt, 12% greater than the same quarter a year earlier. Like-for-like average net cement sales prices increased by 4% and sales volumes declined by 2%, respectively, versus the third quarter of fiscal 2017. This comparison excludes cement sales from the Fairborn Business since its acquisition date.

Operating earnings from cement activities for the third quarter of the 2018 fiscal year were a record US$52.5m and were 16% greater than the same quarter a year ago. The earnings improvement was driven primarily by earnings from the Fairborn Business and improved average net cement sales prices offset by lower sales volumes from Eagle’s legacy facilities.