French cement manufacturer Vicat has announced its figures for the first nine months of 2013. Turnover has increased by 0.6% to €1740 million and the gearing level rose to 51.3% at the end of September compared with 47.6% in 2012. Turnover in cement increased by 2.8% reaching €855 million. The aggregates and concrete turnover increased by 7.4% to €655 million and shipments of aggregates rose by 7.3% to 17.18 million t and deliveries of ready-mix concrete rose by 10.3% to 6.41 million m³.
Regional results
- In France, consolidated turnover decreased by 1.9% to €651 million in the nine months. Cement turnover declined by 7.4% and volume reduced by 6% due to harsh weather in the winter months. However, aggregates and concrete turnover increased by 2.8% to €328 million. Volumes increased by 6.5% in aggregates and rose 2.8% in ready-mix concrete.
- Switzerland saw an increase in turnover of 3.4% to €303 million. Concrete and aggregates turnover rose by 9.8% to €126 million. Turnover of pre-cast concrete grew by 3.4% to €98 million.
- Italian operations saw turnover decline by 18%, due to a fall of 25% in cement shipments.
- In the USA turnover increased by 10.4% to €166 million. Cement volumes grew by a further 2.4% and selling prices increased in the southeast. The turnover of ready-mix concrete increased by 17.5% as volumes increased by 12.5%. In 3Q13, turnover saw an increase of 26.8%.
- Asia and the Middle East reported an increase of 8.8% in turnover to €361 million. The Turkish turnover increased by 19.5% to €183 million, and the turnover in cement rose by 17.2% due to rising volumes and higher selling prices. The turnover in concrete and aggregates saw a 23.1% rise due to an increase in construction activity. Turnover in India rose by 12.5% to €119 million and volumes increased by 25% 2.3 million t. In Kazakhstan, turnover increased by 21.2% to €59 million as volumes prices rose by more than 9%.
- In Africa and Egypt, turnover decreased by 12.1% to €245 million, which translates into an underlying reduction of 8.4%. The Egyptian turnover declined by 18.3% as volumes decreased. Turnover in western African decreased by 3.9%, but cement volumes declined only slightly by 0.5%.
Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling