Global Cement News

Egypt: Arabian Cement Company's net profits grew to US$15.9m in the first half of 2015, up from US$13.8m in the same period of 2014.

Malaysia: YTL Corporation saw a 15.6% year-on-year decline in net profit to US$71.8m for the quarter that ended on 30 June 2015. Its revenue fell by 10.6% to US$987m. YTL Corporation attributed the decline to lower contributions from cement manufacturing and trading, information technology and e-commerce-related business, property investment and development, hotels and utilities.

For the full year that ended on 30 June 2015, YTL Corp's net profit fell from 31% to US$257m, due to lower contributions from cement manufacturing and trading, property investment and development and utilities. During the year, revenue fell by 12.7% to US$3.85bn.

Indonesia: PT Semen Tonasa's Unit IV cement plant in Biring Ere, Bungoro, Pangkejene Islands, South Sulawesi remains in normal operation despite the damage done by a fire on 19 August 2015. The fire lasted for two hours.

One employee was killed and 10 others were injured in the fire that broke out at the coal mill transport belt. The fire was believed to have been sparked in the coal by friction. Most of the injured suffered burns and wounds after leaping from a height. They are currently getting treatment at hospitals in Makassar and Pangkep. The deceased, identified only as Akbar, 25, of Pangkep, was buried on 20 September 2015.

PT Semen Tonasa managing director Unggul Attas confirmed that the fire did not affect operations at the plant. "The plant remains operating like usual and production is stable," said Unggul.

Australia: Adelaide Brighton will pay a special dividend of US$0.04/share on top of an interim dividend worth US$0.08/share to shareholders as Australia's housing boom continues to drive demand for its cement and other building-material products.

It follows a record net profit of US$82.6m in the six months through June, up by 61% on the corresponding period of 2014. The company said that it expects is underlying earnings of US$200 - 215m for the full fiscal year. That estimate includes a US$32m profit on property sales.

"We are very pleased to deliver another record half year result which reflects improving construction activity across our business, an increase in lime sales, our 2014 acquisitions and several property transactions," said chief executive Martin Brydon. "Housing activity is at healthy levels on both the east and west coast of the country and this is augmenting the demand for our products from major infrastructure and resources projects."

Indonesia: PT Bhumiadya Indonesia, part of the Sibleco Group and a manufacturer of industrial minerals with 228 sites worldwide, has ordered a coal mill from Loesche for its new limestone plant in Bandung, Indonesia. The LM 17.20 D vertical roller mill grind 10t/hr of coal to a fineness of 10% R 90μm. The scope of supply also includes filters, blowers, a Loesche hot gas generator and inertisation flaps. The delivery of the mill key parts is scheduled to take place at the end of 2015.