Lafarge sees cement demand growth in 2013

摘要

French cement producer Lafarge expects demand growth of 1-4pc this year compared with last year, driven mainly by emerging markets. Lafarge outlined investment plans for its core markets, including further debottlenecking or brownfield projects in emerging markets such as in India or Iraq. Investments in North America are also planned “to fully benefit from the upturn in this market.” Notable projects in North America include the expansion of the Exshaw plant near Calgary, Alberta, and the renovation of the Ravena plant in the northeast US, which supplies the New York market. Group sales in the first quarter were down by 4pc, partly because of unfavourable weather in Europe and production issues in Algeria and Egypt.