“The Group companies in Romania, Russia, Argentina, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia in particular positively influenced the result. An appreciable number of other Group companies improved their results in local currency terms, but these successes were cancelled out in the consolidated financial statements by the strength of the Swiss franc,” the group noted in its interim report for first half results.
Cement volumes rose 6.5% on the year in Europe, to 12.8 million tons, from 12 million tons.
The group’s overall cement sales widened by 4.7%, to 70.9 million tons, from 67.8 million tons in the same interval of 2010.
The group’s profit widened by 8%, to CHF357 million (EUR311.6 million), while net sales dropped 7% to CHF10.14 billion (EUR8.85 billion).
Holcim Romania reported sales of EUR200 million last year, down 20% on 2009, because of the economic crisis and difficult market conditions. For this year, the company expects turnover to stagnate or dip 5%.
Holcim Romania holds two cement plants, one grinding station, 19 concrete stations, five aggregates stations and one cement terminal. (EUR1=CHF1.14)