Holcim CEO and chairman Jan Jenisch has praised the Swiss building materials giant’s global team for delivering “excellent” H1 2023 trading results.
The Group achieved 7.4% organic net sales growth (CHF 13,067mn – €13,681mn) in the first half of the year and 13.4% organic recurring EBIT growth. Holcim also posted a record Q2 recurring EBIT margin of 21.1% (+2.2 pp) and EPS in H1 of CHF 2.19 (+15%). Group operating profit of CH 1,970mn – €2,062mn) was down 4.7% on H1 2022 (CHF 2,067mn – €2,164mn).
Other Holcim H1 2023 trading figures included a reduction of CO2 per net sales by 18% in H1 2023. Holcim’s full-year 2023 guidance is for organic net sales growth above 6% and organic recurring EBIT growth above 10%.
Jan Jenisch said: “I thank all members of the Holcim family for delivering excellent results in H1. I am excited about our record EBIT margin in Q2, putting us well on track to deliver industry-leading margins in 2023. This confirms Holcim’s strong positions across all markets, delivering superior profitability and growth with leading sustainable building solutions and brands.
“Our excellent financial results, from net sales and recurring EBIT to our record earnings per share, confirm the strength of our strategy, with continued profitable expansion in the attractive North American market and accelerated green growth in Europe and Latin America. We continued the fast-paced execution of our transformation with 18 value-accretive acquisitions, expanding our Solutions & Products business while strengthening our Aggregates and Ready-Mix segments.”
In line with Holcim’s Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth, Jenisch said the Group had reduced its overall CO2/net sales by 18% while building billion-dollar brands with ECOPact and ECOPlanet. “It’s exciting to be at the forefront of decarbonising Europe with three additional grants from the EU Innovation Fund for our Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage projects, making us the first in our sector with five projects supported by the EU. We look forward to finishing the year strong and to further decarbonising building.”
During H1 2023, the Holcim Board of Directors appointed Nollaig Forrest as chief sustainability officer and member of the Group Executive Committee, effective 1 September 2023. Since joining Holcim in 2020, Nollaig has played an instrumental role in Holcim’s net-zero transition, and she will continue advancing Holcim’s leadership in sustainability in this new capacity.
She succeeds Magali Anderson, who decided to pursue new career opportunities as a Board member and NGO supporter. “The Board of Directors and Executive Committee sincerely thank Magali for her many contributions to the company as she led a new era of excellence in sustainability, innovation and health and safety at Holcim, from launching the sector’s first net-zero roadmap to reaching a new level of performance in health and safety,” a Holcim Group statement read.
