BERLIN (Reuters) -Heidelberg Materials, the world’s second-largest listed cement maker, on Thursday raised its 2024 outlook, as a strong performance in North America and efficiency measures across key markets helped offset volume headwinds.
The German building materials company now expects the result from current operations for the 2024 financial year to be between 3.1 billion and 3.3 billion euros ($3.33-3.55 billion) and 3.3 billion euros, narrowing a previously forecast range of between 3.0 billion and 3.3 billion euros.
“Our persistently strong performance in North America combined with a continued focus on cost management across key markets helped offset volume headwinds and contributed to further increasing our operational result and improving our profitability,” said managing board chairman Dominik von Achten.
An initiative of optimisation and efficiency measures dubbed the “Transformation Accelerator” is expected to lead to a yearly result contribution of 500 million euros by the end of 2026, the company said.
A particular focus area will be the optimisation of the clinker and cement network in Western Europe, it added.
The company reported a 3% increase in its result from continuing operations during the third quarter to 1.124 billion euros, adjusted for scope and currency effects.
($1 = 0.9308 euros)
(Writing by Rachel More, Editing by Miranda Murray)
