Mild winter pushes sales for HeidelbergCement

HeidelbergCement saw double-digit growth in sales volumes for all business lines for the first quarter of 2014.

The cement producer saw group revenue rise 5.7% to €2.75 billion, up from €2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2013. Operating income before depreciation (OIBD) rose by 15.6% to €229 million, compared with €198 million in 2013.

Dr Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the managing board, said, “Europe contributed significantly to the improvement of results due to the mild winter and the positive economic development in our markets.

“In addition, we were able to implement price increases in some important markets of our group.”

The group’s cement and clinker sales volumes rose by 10% to 17.5 million tonnes from 15.9 million tonnes in 2013. Deliveries of aggregates amounted to 44.3 million tonnes, an increase of 11.3% on the 39.8 million tonnes last year. Ready-mixed concrete deliveries rose by 11.2% to 7.7 million m³ from 2013’s 6.9 million m³. Asphalt sales volumes grew by 28.2% to 1.5 million tonnes from 1.2 million tonnes for 2013.

Looking ahead, HeidelbergCement forecasts that revenue, operating income, and profit will all show growth for the financial year in 2014.

Dr Scheifele said that in 2014, the company would benefit from the economic development in the industrial countries, particularly in North America, the UK, Germany and northern Europe.

“These countries generate almost 50% of our revenue,” he said. “Furthermore, we are improving our market position in growth markets with the commissioning of modern production facilities.

“In view of these factors, as well as our high operational efficiency, we consider ourselves well-equipped to benefit over-proportionally from the accelerating economic growth in the interests of our shareholders,” said Dr Scheifele.