HeidelbergCement presented its preliminary, unaudited figures for sales volumes, revenue, and result from current operations before and after depreciation and amortisation for the fourth quarter and the whole of 2018.
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In 2018, the cement and clinker sales volumes of HeidelbergCement increased moderately by 3% compared with the previous year to 130 million tonnes (previous year: 126).
Deliveries of aggregates rose slightly by 1% to 309 million tonnes (previous year: 305).
Deliveries of ready-mixed concrete increased by 4% to 49 million cubic metres (previous year: 47).
As a result of the increase in sales volumes in all business lines and successful price increases, HeidelbergCement revenue rose by 5% to €18.1 (previous year: 17.3) billion.
Currency effects of around €592 million had an adverse impact on the development of revenue.
After adjustment for currency and positive consolidation effects, the revenue growth was as high as 8%.
In contrast, RCOBD fell by 7% to €3.1 billion (previous year: 3.3).
Negative currency and consolidation effects impaired the development of results by €153 million.
In addition, the non-recurring income of €79 million generated in Q4 of the previous year from the sale of an exhausted quarry was not repeated.
Adjusted for currency and consolidation effects, the result from current operations decreased slightly by 2%.
Moreover, after adjustment for the sale of the quarry in the previous year, the development of results was stable.
The cost inflation before currency effects was almost offset by higher sales volumes, price increases, and consistent cost management, particularly in view of the increased energy costs.
In the fourth quarter, HeidelbergCement increased the sales volumes of cement and ready-mixed concrete compared with the same quarter of the previous year.
Cement and clinker sales volumes rose by 2% to 33 million tonnes (previous year: 32), driven by solid growth in Europe and Asia.
Deliveries of aggregates remained stable at 76 million tonnes (previous year: 76).
The growth in North America and in Western and Southern Europe offset declines in the other HeidelbergCement areas.
Sales volumes of ready-mixed concrete increased by 8% to 13 million tonnes (previous year: 12).
HeidelbergCement revenue rose considerably by 10% to €4.7 billion (previous year: 4.3).
Currency and consolidation effects had barely any impact on the development of revenue.
Result from current operations before depreciation and amortisation declined by 5% to €847 million (previous year: 892).
Adjusted for the sale of the exhausted quarry in the USA in the previous year, the figure increased slightly. ■