In the third quarter 2016, the sales volumes of HeidelbergCement’s building materials rose significantly as a result of the first consolidation of Italcementi. In addition, demand developed positively in numerous markets, especially in Europe, where sales volumes of cement, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt further increased. In contrast, a very rainy summer in some parts of North America resulted in a slight decline in demand for cement and aggregates.
The company’s cement and clinker sales volumes rose by 52 percent to 33.2 million tons (previous year: 21.8) in the third quarter. The sales volumes of Italcementi’s markets in Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, India, Thailand, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Gambia and North America were included for the first time. Taking into account Italcementi’s deliveries in the same period of the previous year on a pro forma basis, the growth amounts to 5 percent. In North America, sales volumes rose slightly despite adverse weather conditions in some regions.
In the first nine months of 2016, cement and clinker sales volumes rose by 4 percent on a pro forma basis to 94.2 million tonnes (previous year: 90.8).
“With the acquisition of Italcementi, HeidelbergCement made a big leap in growth and is now the clear number two in the building materials industry,” said Dr. Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the managing board. “In the third quarter, we also recorded a further increase in operational terms despite adverse conditions in some markets. The integration of Italcementi is progressing faster than expected and we are very confident that we will be able to exceed the identified synergies of €400 million and to continue our profitable growth both quickly and successfully.”
