LafargeHolcim's 3Q net sales drop in North America

Demand for aggregates in the US was impacted by a cautious sentiment for both private and public sector investment

Cement sales contracted 1. percent year-on-year and 2.6 percent YTD. Meanwhile, net sales decreased 2.6 percent year-on-year and 1.8 percent YTD. Operating EBITDA for North America was up 7.6 percent for the third quarter year-on-year. Earnings in the US were significantly higher than in the year-ago period despite unfavorable weather. Demand for aggregates in the US was also impacted by a cautious sentiment for both private and public sector investment. Continued work on cost reduction and the ramp up of key plants such as St. Genevieve and Ravena are supporting earnings growth. In Canada, volumes of cement, aggregates and ready - mix concrete increased, underpinning an uplift in earnings.