The group’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) was up 27% to €3.2bn (+7% on a like-for-like basis) – compared to €2.5bn in 2018. Sales revenue was up 9% (+4% on a like-for-like basis) to €21.8bn – compared to €19.9bn for the first three-quarters of last year.
Total aggregates volumes for the nine months, including the impact of acquisitions and divestments, were 6% ahead of 2018. Average year-to-date aggregates prices increased by 5%, with increases recorded in all group trading regions. Nine-month asphalt sales volumes were in line with 2018 on a total and like-for-like basis; ready-mixed concrete sale were 12% up on 2018; and paving and construction services business increased by 3%. Finally, nine-month sales of cement in the U.S. were “well ahead” of 2018 due to CRH’s acquisition of
A CRH statement accompanying the first nine-month trading figures said that the group-wide profit improvement programme is advancing well, with further value creation coming through the group’s continued portfolio refinement (€2bn in divestments and around €0.7bn in acquisitions to 30 September 2019).
CRH expects its 2019 full-year EBITDA to be in excess of €4.15bn.
