BERLIN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- HeidelbergCement recorded increased sales volumes in all of its business segments thanks to continued "positive momentum in many markets" as well as improved weather conditions in Europe and North America in the first quarter of 2019 (Q1), the company announced on Thursday.
Turnover of HeidelbergCement, one of the world's largest producer of building materials such as cement, construction aggregates and ready-mixed concrete, increased by 17 percent to a total of 4.2 billion euros (4.7 billion U.S. dollars) in Q1.
"HeidelbergCement has made an excellent start to 2019," commented Bernd Scheifele, chief executive officer (CEO) of the German building material company.
Main drivers for the rise in turnover were "partly significant increases" in sales volumes in the regions Western and Southern Europe, Northern and Eastern Europe-Central Asia as well as in North America.
In last year's first quarter, sales of HeidelbergCement had suffered from a long winter in Europe and North America which delayed the building season.
"In addition to improved weather conditions, sustained strong demand and successful price increases contributed towards this positive development," added HeidelbergCement CEO Scheifele.
HeidelbergCement was able to successfully implement price increases "in many markets" in Q1, the company stated.
Earnings from current operations before depreciation and amortization of HeidelbergCement also increased "significantly" by over 50 percent to 396 million euros. Besides the growth in sales volume and price increases, the initial application of the international accounting standard IFRS 16 had a positive effect on the company's balance sheets.
For 2019, HeidelbergCement is expecting increasing sales volumes for its core products cement, aggregates and ready-mixed concrete. The company confirmed an earlier forecast published in March and is anticipating turnover and operational profits to increase "moderately" between 3 and 9 percent.
Investors on the stock market reacted positively after the publication of HeidelbergCement's quarterly figures. Shares of the building material company temporarily went up by over 2.5 percent and were among the winners in Germany's DAX stock index on Thursday.
