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Soboce's profit down 48.76% in 2015 22 July 2015
Bolivia: Sociedad Boliviana de Cemento (Soboce) has posted a profit of US$16.1m in the year that ended on 31 March 2015, down by 48.76% from US$31.5m in its 2014 financial year, according to Esmerk Latin American News. The fall was attributed to an increase in costs, rainy weather and a US$7.41m fine it had to pay in 2015, according to Esmerk Latin American News. The company is 98% owned by Consorcio Cementero del Sur, part of Gloria group.
Cement shortages in San Juan blamed on Holcim 22 July 2015
Argentina: There is a shortage of cement in the San Juan Province of Argentina of around 20% of the normal volumes, according to Esmerk Latin America News. The shortage is blamed on Holcim, which supplies 38% of the cement needed there. Loma Negra and Avellaneda supply 52% and 10% of the material needed in the Argentine district, according to data from the Argentine Construction Chamber. Local ironmongers' believe the problem might be solved shortly.
Bolu Cimento completes Ankara plant upgrade 22 July 2015
Turkey: Bolu Cimento Sanayii AS has completed the conversion of its Ankara grinding facility to a fully-integrated cement plant, according to Reuters. The plant will start operations in July 2015.
LafargeHolcim’s Aggregate Industries takes ownership of two Lafarge cement plants in the UK 22 July 2015
UK: Leicestershire-based Aggregate Industries, now part of the LafargeHolcim group, has taken ownership of Lafarge cement plants in Cauldon, Staffordshire and Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
The transfer of ownership of the two plants, along with a quarry at Cauldon Low and a cement terminal at Belfast Docks, was finalised on 20 July 2015 and also involves the transfer of 250 employees from the existing operations to Aggregate Industries. Originally owned by Holcim, Aggregate Industries said that becoming a cement producer and supplier 'is the final piece in the jigsaw,' providing a full range of construction materials to its customers.
"These are exciting times for Aggregate Industries. Along with the wider benefits of being part of the new LafargeHolcim group, the integration of cement production represents a significant strategic opportunity for us. We're now able to offer our customers the full range of construction materials and solutions, while maintaining our high levels of customer service," said Pat Ward, Aggregate Industries CEO. The business will continue with the Lafarge cement brand for its bulk cement products, although some of the bagged products will be renamed in due course.
BaselCement boosts cement and clinker output by 4% 22 July 2015
Russia: BaselCement produced 1Mt of cement and clinker in the first half of 2015, 4% more than in the same period of 2014, according to Interfax.
"Significant growth in production was achieved at Serebryansk Cement Plant. The enterprise produced almost 650,000t of cement in the first half of 2015. Shipments to the construction market in Moscow and Moscow region rose by 15% year-on-year. The plant's share of the Moscow region's cement market rose to 9%," said BaselCement in a press release.
Achinsk Cement shipped 64,000t of cement to customers in the Siberian Federal District in the first half of 2015, double the amount in the same period of 2014. "This was the result of the Euro2.56m investment project aimed at increasing capacity to produce the given grades," said BaselCement. The Siberian enterprise also increased shipments of commercial clinker by more than 150% on higher demand. Its share of the construction materials market in the Siberian FD was about 10%.