Germany: Heidelberg Materials has reported that it has increased its revenue by 13% year-on-year to Euro15.8bn during the first nine months of 2022. It said that high energy and raw material costs seen during the third quarter were only partly offset. The group’s net result for the nine-month period showed a 6.1% decline to Euro2.72bn. The decline was also due to significantly higher energy prices and increased raw material costs, which Heidelberg Materials said could only be offset partially by energy savings, cost discipline and price increases.

In the first nine months of 2022, sales volumes in all business lines declined due to consolidation and the economic impact from the Russian-Ukraine war on the European economy. Cement and clinker sales reduced by 6% to 90.0Mt, compared to 95.7Mt in the first nine months of 2021. Heidelberg Materials cited capacity reduction in North America, specifically its Western US operations, and the economic downturn in Europe as factors. Excluding consolidation effects, cement and clinker sales were down by 3.8%.

Heidelberg Materials said that it forecasts increased revenue for 2022, which will be adversely affected by increased outgoings. It expects global demand for building materials to weaken slightly on the back of higher costs and inflationary pressures.

Egypt: South Valley Cement has posted a 41.5% year-on-year decline in its net loss after tax during the first nine months of 2022, according to a statement filed to the Egyptian Exchange. The company incurred a net loss of US$3.42m in the January - September period of 2022, compared to a loss of US$5.88m in the same period in 2021. Sales from its cement segment surged to US$25.2m from US$7.43m previously.

Egypt: Arabian Cement Company (ACC) has signed an amendment to its 2019 contract with Amarenco SolarizEgypt (ASE) to establish a solar photovoltaic (PV) unit at its Suez plant. The amendment to the agreement aligns with updated regulations recently issued by the Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (EgyptERA) to encourage and support self-built solar energy projects as Egypt hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh.

ACC already generates 20.6MW of power from a solar PV plant, representing 3% of its total power needs and saving 5500t/yr of CO₂. Construction of a second site, capable of saving 13,000t/yr of CO₂, will now begin in early 2023. The actual commissioning and start-up of operations is expected in September 2023.

“As part of our sustainable development strategy, we are continually assessing opportunities to develop Egypt’s cement industry with projects that integrate sustainable and environment-friendly solutions and renewable energy resources given their significant environmental, social impact and on the economy at large,” said Sergio Alcantarilla, the chief executive officer of ACC.

France: Switzerland-based Holcim has taken control of Carbocia, a producer of limestone fillers based at the Marquise quarry basin in Hauts-de-France, via the acquisition of a 90% stake in the company. The acquisition provides the group with greater access to raw materials used in the manufacture of low and / or zero-CO₂ cements and concretes.

"Micronised calcium carbonates make it possible to give compactness and resistance, in addition to reducing the share of the components of the cement most loaded with CO₂," explained the president of Holcim France, François Petry. Holcim also hopes to maximise its new subsidiary’s expertise to take advantage ‘compatible deposits in France’ that it already owns. It plans to grow Carbocia’s output from 0.4Mt/yr at present to 0.6Mt/yr in 2024.