LafargeHolcim releases first-quarter 2019 results

First-quarter North American aggregate sales increased to 14.2 million tons at LafargeHolcim, up 200,000 tons from the same period of 2018.

According to LafargeHolcim, global aggregate sales volumes dipped slightly to 49.6 million tons, compared to 49.8 million tons during the first quarter of last year. Global net sales, however, improved to 813 million CHF (Swiss francs), compared to 764 million CHF during the same period last year.

“We had a very strong start of the year and I am especially pleased to see our strong sales growth and an over-proportional increase in profitability,” says Jan Jenisch, CEO of LafargeHolcim. “Our momentum is very positive and Q1 2019 is the third consecutive quarter with recurring EBITDA growing faster than net sales.”

LafargeHolcim‘s like-for-like global net sales grew 6.4 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, and the company’s recurring earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) improved 20.6 percent.

The company’s North American region, specifically, had a strong start to the year. LafargeHolcim’s North American region experienced good volume growth in the quarter, with several multi-year construction contracts supporting a strong order book. The company also furthered its cost-savings program, LafargeHolcim says.