Category: News

Grupo Argos announced that its net profit in the third quarter of 2019 increased 13% compared with the prior-year period. The Colombian conglomerate, whose subsidiaries include Cementos Argos and energy company Celsia, also noted that it recorded its highest-ever quarterly EBITDA. 

Union workers at the Keystone Cement Co. plant in Bath, Pa., have filed suit to halt its sale to Lehigh Hanson, alleging the purchase would violate their existing contracts, reported The Morning Call. 

HeidelbergCement recently announced that group revenue rose by 7% to €14.3 billion from January to September 2019. Excluding consolidation and exchange rate effects, group revenue grew by 4% for the first nine months of 2019. Further, the result from current operations before depreciation and amortization rose by 17% to €2.6 billion for the period.

Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, S.A.B. de C.V. (GCC) announced U.S. cement volumes increased 9.8% in the third quarter of 2019 – a record high for the Mexico-based company. Consolidated net sales increased 8.3% to $301.7 million, primarily driven by increased cement volumes and improved pricing in both Mexico and the U.S.

The World Cement Association (WCA) continues to grow its international network of member companies with the recent addition of FLSmidth China, a wholly owned subsidiary of Denmark-based FLSmidth. The market-leading supplier of production facilities, equipment and service solutions for the global mining and cement industries joins WCA as an associate member.

Lafarge Canada has taken responsibility for the mysterious dust plaguing Bath, Ontario, for the past week, reported Global News. After investigating the thick, sticky substance, Lafarge said it believed it was “likely comprised of clinker dust from our Bath cement plant.”

Cemex announced on a like-to-like basis for the ongoing operations and adjusting for foreign exchange fluctuations, consolidated net sales decreased by 1%, reaching $3.5 billion during the third quarter of 2019 versus the comparable period in 2018. Operating EBITDA decreased by 7% on a like-to-like basis during the third quarter of 2019 to $681 million on a year-over-year basis.

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) released its annual Fall Forecast, which predicts moderate growth for cement consumption through 2019 and into 2020. PCA Market Intelligence expects cement consumption will grow by 2.4% in 2019, 1.7% in 2020, and 1.4% in 2021.

Cemex USA announced two of its Florida cement plants – Miami and Brooksville South – achieved the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star Certification for 2019, recognizing the company’s efforts in energy efficiency and sustainability.