Holcim Romania Cement Sales Up 40% in H1

Holcim Romania"s cement sales rose by 40% in the first six months of the year, thus marking the highest increase on the European market, according to a company press release.

Holcim"s sales rose by 37.9% in Bulgaria and by 27,3%. in the Czech Republic and fell slightly in Belgium (-1.4%) and Switzerland (-2.3%).

The average cement price rose by 10% in Romania, as compared to H1/06 , according to the financial report published by Holcim. The average cement price recorded the highest increase in Russia (44.4%) and Azerbaijan (34.2%). Cement prices dropped only in Croatia (-3.2%) and Italy (-0.9%).

Holcim Group"s operating profit rose by nearly 25% to 2.4 billion Swiss franks (1.46 billion EUR) in the first half of the year, while net sales increased by 19,5% to 13 billion Swiss franks (7.94 billion EUR. In Europe, net sales rose by 27.3% to 5.06 billion Swiss franks (3.09 billion EUR) and operating profit amounted to 815 million Swiss franks (497 million EUR), recording a 30% increase from the same period last year.

Cement producer Holcim Romania posted a gross profit of 207 million RON in 2006, recording a 41% increase from 147 million RON in the previous year. Turnover rose by nearly 30% to 774.7 million RON last year, as compared with 603 million RON in 2005.

Last year, Holcim Romania invested approximately 57 million EUR in production technology, environmental care, business development, workplace safety and human resources. The company operates three cement plants in Turda, Campulung and Alesd and has approximately 1,300 employees.