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US and Mexican performance drive strong third quarter for Cemex 26 October 2018
Mexico: Sales growth in the US and Mexico has contributed to a strong third quarter for Cemex in 2018. Overall, its net sales rose by 7% year-on-year to US$10.9bn in the first nine months of 2017 from US$10.2bn in the same period in 2017. Cement sales volumes rose by 3% to 52.7Mt from 51.1Mt. However, despite the sales growth, operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) remained flat at US$1.96bn.
“These results were underpinned by healthy volume and pricing dynamics in our three core products in most of our portfolio. We are pleased with our operations in Mexico and the US, with strong growth in year-over-year volumes for our three core products and improved prices. In our Europe region, prices continued to improve with growth in ready-mix and aggregates volumes. In addition, in our Asia, Middle East and Africa region, we saw volumes and prices in the Philippines rising in the mid-single digits as well as a double-digit increase in cement prices in Egypt,” said Fernando A Gonzalez, chief executive officer (CEO) of Cemex.
Despite the strong markets in North America the building materials company reported a 3% drop in net sales in its South, Central America and Caribbean business area. A particular poor result was noted in Colombia. However, cement sales volumes picked up year-on-year in the third quarter of 2018 following elections.
Government spending drives SCG’s cement business growth 26 October 2018
Thailand: SCG’s building materials division growth has been driven by government spending. The cement producer said that demand for Ordinary Portland Cement grew by 7% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2018. Its revenue from sales grew by 4% year-on-year to US$4.14bn in the first nine months of 2018. However, its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 5% to US$481m.
HeidelbergCement India benefits from market in Uttar Pradesh 26 October 2018
India: HeidelbergCement India’s half-year results have benefitted from improved markets in building materials in central India including Uttar Pradesh. Its sales volumes of cement rose by 10.5% year-on-year to 2.39Mt in the six months to the end of September 2018 from 2.17Mt in the same period in 2017. Its revenue rose by 19.4% to US$138m from US$116m. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 47% to US$32.1m from US$21.9m.
The subsidiary of Germany’s HeidelbergCement said that although fuel prices rose in the latest quarter this was offset by a waste heat recovery system. The company operates two integrated plants and one grinding plant with a cement production capacity of 5.4Mt/yr.
Gebr. Pfeiffer to supply vertical mill for Samrat Cement 26 October 2018
Nepal: Germany’s Gebr. Pfeiffer has received an order via KHD to supply an MPS 225 BK vertical mill to grind coal for Samrat Cement. The cement company is building a new integrated production line at a plant in the Dang region.
The mill, with a drive power of 370kW, will grind 35t/hr of coal to a product fineness of 15% R 90µm. At the same time, the coal, which may have a feed moisture of up to 10%, is dried in the mill. An SLS 1800 BK integrated classifier will separate the ground coal into fine product and coarse product, with the latter being returned to the grinding zone to be again. The classifier will also allow petroleum coke to be separated to fineness degrees of <1% R 90µm.
The order was received via Gebr. Pfeiffer’s subsidiary in India. It will supply the main equipment for the mill and associated equipment for the grinding plant.
Russia: Germany’s Aumund has held a technical seminar to mark the opening of its new office in St Petersburg. Previously, the conveying and bulk storage company operated an office in Moscow but it decided to relocate to be nearer to Russian design institutes and engineering companies based in St Petersburg. The official opening of the site was held in late August 2018.