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Lopatin replaces Horholiuk as director-general at Eurocement Ukraine
Written by Global Cement staff
08 May 2013
Ukraine: The supervisory board of Eurocement Ukraine has relieved acting director-general Vitalii Horholiuk and appointed Oleg Lopatin director-general, according to a company statement. The decision to dismiss Horholiuk was due to Lopatin obtaining a work permit for Ukraine. Previously, Lopatin managed the Voronezh branch of Eurocement Group, based in Moscow, Russia.
Switzerland: Despite net sales falling Holcim has reported a net income of Euro240m for the first quarter of 2013, compared to Euro91m in the same period in 2012. The gain was principally made through the sale of Holcim's 25% stake in Cement Australia. Elsewhere, market and weather induced decreases in sales volumes in all segments and higher variable costs impacted operating results.
The building materials producer reported that net sales fell by 7.2% to Euro3.52bn in the first quarter of 2013 from Euro3.84bn in the same period of 2012. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 10.3% to Euro681m from Euro617m. Sales of cement fell by 5% to 32.1Mt from 33.7Mt.
By region sales of cement fell in Asia Pacific by 3.8% to 18.6Mt from 19.4Mt. In Latin America sales of cement remained stable at 5.9%. In Europe sales of cement fell by 2.5% to 4.4Mt from 4.5Mt. Weaker construction activities were noted in India, Morocco and France.
In its outlook Holcim expected an increase in sales of cement in 2013 led by its Asia Pacific, North America and Latin America regions.
HeidelbergCement reports stable Q1 08 May 2013
Germany: HeidelbergCement has reported stable revenues for the first quarter of 2013 at Euro2.76bn compared to Euro2.80bn in the same period of 2012. The German cement producer commented that weak sales volumes in Europe and North America, caused by bad weather and reducing working days, were mostly offset by growth in cement sales volumes in North America, Asia and Africa.
Group share of loss grew to Euro235m in the first quarter of 2013 from Euro208m in the same period in 2012. This follows the announcement by HeidelbergCement in April 2013 that its profits would be hit by a Euro30m fine in the second quarter of 2013 due to previous cartel infringements.
Sales volumes of cement and clinker remained stable at 18.1Mt. By business line, revenues for cement in Western and Northern Europe fell by 9.8% to Euro321m from Euro356m. In the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region revenues fell by 7% to Euro147m from Euro158m. In North America revenues rose by 8% to Euro222m from Euro205m. In the Asia Pacific region revenues rose by 8% to Euro507m from Euro468m. In the Africa-Mediterranean Basin region revenues rose by 5% to Euro201m from Euro191m.
For its outlook for the remainder of 2013, HeidelbergCement expects continued demand for building materials in North America, Asia and Africa. In Europe and Central Asia, the group anticipates stability in Germany, Northern Europe, Russia and Central Asia and weak development elsewhere.
Italcementi loss grows in Q1 08 May 2013
Italy: Italcementi's loss for the first quarter of 2013 has grown to Euro58.5m from Euro34.4m in the same period in 2012. The Italian cement producer singled out poor weather in March 2013 and the absence of income from CO2 emission rights as contributing factors.
Group revenue fell by 9.3% to Euro0.96bn in the first quarter of 2013 from Euro1.03bn in the same period in 2012. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 36.8% to Euro88.7m from Euro140m.
Revenue for the group's cement and clinker sector fell by 9.5% to Euro627m from Euro693m. Total cement and clinker sales volumes fell by 9.6% to 10Mt. By region, in central Western Europe sales volumes fell by 18.6% to 3Mt. In North America sales volumes fell by 3.9% to 0.7Mt. In the group's 'Emerging Europe, North Africa and Middle East' region sales volumes fell by 14.6% to 3.3Mt. In Asia sales volumes rose by 11.2% to 2.7Mt. Particular drops in revenue were noted in Italy (22.3%) and Spain (28.9%).
In its quarterly report Italcementi described how the group is coping with the fall in cement consumption in Italy from 46.5Mt in 2006 to 25.5Mt in 2012 with its 'Project 2015' programme that was announced in December 2012. During 2013 a number of continuous-cycle plants will continue to operate only as grinding centres. The group also placed the value of lost CO2 emission rights income - principally from Italy, France and Bulgaria – at Euro18m in 2012.
In its outlook Italcementi believes that its full-year recurring EBITDA will be substantially stable compared with 2012. The healthy trends on the Asian and North American markets together with the benefits arising from the on-going efficiency measures should counterbalance the effects of the reduction in demand expected on the European markets.
France: Ciments Français' revenue fell by 7.3% year-on-year to Euro819m in the first quarter of 2013, from Euro884m in the same quarter in 2012. The Italcementi subsidiary commented that the first quarter of 2012 had suffered due to bad weather.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 14.9% to Euro112m in the first quarter of 2013 from Euro132m in the first quarter of 2012. By business segment, revenues for cement and clinker fell by 8% to Euro556m from Euro604m.
In Western Europe sales volumes of cement and clinker fell by 14.1% to 1.9Mt. In North America sales volumes fell by 3.9% to 0.7Mt. In the company's emerging Europe, North Africa and Middle East region sales volumes rose by 11.2% to 2.7Mt. In Asia sales volumes rose by 11.2% to 2.7Mt.
By revenue, particular decreases were recorded in France, Belgium and Spain. In France and Belgium revenues fell by 10% to Euro319m from Euro354m. In Spain revenues fell by 29% to Euro21.7m from Euro30.5m. In India sales revenues fell by 4% to Euro61.3m from Euro63.9m. A recurring EBITDA decrease in France and Belgium was attributed to bad weather and a fall in CO2 sales. In India it was attributed to a decrease in prices and a negative exchange rate effect.
The group confirmed its projections for 2013, which forecast a maintenance of EBITDA in 2013. Its projections are based on a recovery of some markets and a significant contribution from an improvement in production efficiency and a reduction in overheads.