Europe & CIS

In the first ten months of 2014, consumption in Andalucía came in at approximately 1.52 million t, down 2.9% y/y.

A round-up of this week’s key cement news stories, from new appointments at the Portland Cement Association to the latest regional cement statistics.

The longest conveyor belt in Europe recently went into operation at Vicat’s cement plant in Montalieu, France.

The total number of contracts for new homes awarded in October increased by 9.2% from the month before and by 34.2% compared to October 2013.

ThyssenKrupp achieved net earnings of €195 million and earnings per share of €0.38 in the 2013 – 2014 fiscal year.

In September 2014, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector fell by 1.8% in the euro area (EA18) and by 0.9% in the EU28 compared to August.

The German cement company has suspended operations at its plant near Donetsk, according to the Financial Times.

Cemex has provided an overview of the UK infrastructure projects it has been involved in recently, which range from a new airport terminal to an onshore gas plant.

Though revenue was affected by currency depreciation and a slowdown in some markets, the Italian cement company reduced debt and grew EBITDA over the first nine months of the year.

HeidelbergCement has announced the winners of the national Quarry Life Award 2014 for Indonesia, North America, Northern Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic and Poland.

In January – October 2014, cement sales grew by 11.4% y/y in Lanzarote; domestic cement consumption dropped 0.5% y/y in Spain over the same period.

In January – October 2014, Eurocement’s Mikhailovcement shipped its customers 1.356 million t of cement, an 18.1% increase compared to the same period in 2013.

During today’s Investor and Analyst Day 2014, Holcim will announce details on the future development of the Holcim Leadership Journey, as well as 2015 guidance.

The UK Mineral Products Association has identified this steep rise in costs for the sector in its latest report.

The Irish Independent is reporting that Turkey’s biggest cement manufacturer has purchased the CRH, Eren Holdings joint venture project.