Swiss group Holcim saw its cement and clinker sales up by 5.1 percent in Romania in the first quarter of the year, according to the company’s report. However, Eastern European markets are still in a difficult situation, the company also said.

Meanwhile, prices for cement and clinker went up by 6.6 percent in the local currency RON. On the aggregates segment, Holcim saw a 16.3 percent drop in sales, but prices were up 39 percent.

Cement producing giants Lafarge and Holcim could have to sell 43 percent of their capacity in Romania, as part of their merger plans, according to Deutsche Bank.

Announced earlier in April, the merger, achieved by Holcim buying Lafarge, will create the LafargeHolcim brand, with an estimated joint EBITDA profit of EUR 6.5 billion.

Holcim owns two cement plants in Campulung and Alesd, a grinding station and a cement terminal in Turda, 13 ecological ready-mix plants, 3 aggregates plants, 2 special binders plants and a cement terminal in Bucharest, and employs around 950 people.

editor@romania-insider.com