Strong start to the year – guidance upgraded

• Net sales of CHF 5,725m, organic growth of +8.0%
   
• Recurring EBIT of CHF 493m, over-proportional organic growth of +12.0%
   
• 12 value accretive acquisitions; 5 in Solutions & Products, 7 in Aggregates & Ready-Mix
   
• Accelerating climate action; Holcim’s 2^nd Climate Report with upgraded targets
   
• Guidance 2023 upgraded, organic net sales growth of above 6% and organic Recurring EBIT growth of above 10%

Group Q1 (in million CHF)

2023

2022

±%

±% organic

Net sales

5,725

6,440

-11.1

8.0

Recurring EBIT

493

614

-19.7

12.0

Jan Jenisch, CEO: "I thank all members of the Holcim family for this strong start to the year. This quarter’s performance demonstrates the strength of our portfolio and regional footprint, delivering broad-based profitable growth, driven by high-value solutions, from ECOPact to ECOPlanet, supporting our customers in achieving their sustainability goals.    

"In Q1 2023, net sales grew organically by 8% and Recurring EBIT by 12%. This profitable growth was led by strong performances across our building materials businesses. Our teams continued our fast-paced execution, with 12 value-accretive acquisitions, including Duro-Last, completing our range of flat roofing systems. With strong underlying trends across all our businesses, we are confident we will close the full year strong. We are upgrading our guidance accordingly to achieve organic net sales growth of above 6% and organic Recurring EBIT growth of above 10%, while delivering an industry-leading Recurring EBIT margin of above 16%.

"We accelerated climate action with upgraded 1.5°C targets, as shared in our second Climate Report while expanding our range of sustainable building solutions. We reached 16% of ready-mix net sales with ECOPact low-carbon concrete and expanded our ECOPlanet range with two calcined clay production facilities in France and Mexico, delivering low-carbon cement with up to 50% less CO2. Scaling up circular construction, we launched our ECOCycle® technology, recycling construction demolition materials into new building solutions, to exceed our 2025 target of 10 million tons."

Strong performance

The North America region delivered a strong start to the year in Cement, Aggregates and Ready-Mix Concrete, with strong market demand in both the USA and Canada. Roofing volumes were impacted by inventory normalization. Holcim’s roofing offer was further strengthened in the quarter with the closing of Duro-Last, alongside two other acquisitions in Aggregates. Order books are strong in all business segments.

The first quarter of 2023 in Latin America was the region’s eleventh consecutive quarter of profitable organic growth, with performance driven by Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. The company expanded the Solutions & Products business in roofing and waterproofing in Argentina and in Mexico. Holcim expects these strong results to continue with an excellent pipeline of infrastructure projects ahead.

In Europe, Holcim delivered strong results across the region, with margin expansion driven by high-value solutions. Holcim closed two acquisitions in Solutions & Products and five in Aggregates and Ready-Mix. The company expects strong results to continue.

The Asia Middle East & Africa region showed profitable organic growth with significant margin expansion. Performance was driven by Australia, Algeria and Egypt. Decarbonizing its operations, the region delivered a significant increase in alternative fuels. Order books for the region are good and the recovery in China is progressing.

Successful transformation

Holcim continued its successful transformation, with twelve value-accretive acquisitions, including the highly synergistic strategic Duro-Last acquisition. Four other acquisitions were added to the Solutions & Products business segment in the quarter covering roofing, waterproofing, retail and precast. Seven other acquisitions were added in Aggregates and Ready-Mix Concrete.

Leadership in sustainability

In line with Holcim’s commitment to lead its sector’s transition to net zero, the Board of Directors has submitted the company’s second Climate Report for an advisory vote, reflecting the company’s commitment to give its shareholders a say on the company’s climate-related matters. The Climate Report was published on 31 March 2023.

Accelerating climate action, Holcim reduced its CO₂ per net sales by 21% in 2022 and will reduce it by over 10% in 2023. The 2023 Climate Report includes Holcim’s upgraded 2030 targets aligned with the 1.5°C framework and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Making progress in carbon capture utilization and storage, Holcim commits to invest a cumulative CHF 2 billion by 2030 in mature technologies to capture more than 5 million tons of CO₂ per year. Driving circular construction across its business, Holcim launched its proprietary ECOCycle® circular technology platform in April to accelerate recycling of construction and demolition materials. The company is on track to exceed its target to recycle 10 million tons of construction and demolition materials by 2025.

Continuing its focus on sustainable construction, ECOPact low-carbon concrete represented 16% of Ready-Mix net sales in the first quarter, continuing to make progress towards its objective of reaching 25% by 2025. ECOPlanet low-carbon cement is now available in 27 markets, with the first calcined clay production in France and Mexico with up to 50% less CO₂.

Outlook and Guidance

Holcim expects continued profitable growth and is upgrading its guidance, with:

• Organic net sales growth of above 6%
• Over-proportional organic growth in Recurring EBIT of above 10%
• Industry-leading Recurring EBIT margin of above 16%
• Free cash flow after leases of around CHF 3 billion
• Reduction of CO2 per net sales by over 10%

Group and regional figures

Group Q1 

2023

2022

±%

±% organic

Net sales (CHFm)

5,725

6,440

-11.1

8.0

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

493

614

-19.7

12.0

North America Q1

2023

2022

±%

±% organic

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

1,742

1,651

5.5

0.2

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

36

68

-47.0

-40.3

Latin America Q1

2023

2022

±%

±% organic

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

726

682

6.4

25.0

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

244

220

10.7

10.8

Europe Q1

2023

2022

±%

±% organic

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

2,044

1,882

8.6

8.8

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

118

74

58.7

61.7

Asia Middle East Africa Q1

2023

2022

±%

±% organic

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

1,083

2,114

-48.8

8.3

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

197

336

-41.4

16.2

– of which Asia Pacific

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

587

1,514

-61.2

15.5

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

99

249

-60.1

2.4

– of which Middle East Africa

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

496

599

-17.3

1.6

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

97

87

12.1

33.2

Reconciliation to Group accounts

Reconciling measures of profit and loss to the Holcim Group’s consolidated statement of income:

Group Q1 (in million CHF)

2023

2022

Recurring EBITDA

970

1,164

Depreciation of right-of-use assets

-86

-90

Recurring EBITDA after leases

884

1,074

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment, intangible and long-term assets

-391

-460

Recurring EBIT

493

614

Additional information

Alternative Performance definitions
Some Alternative Performance measures are used in this release to help describe the performance of Holcim. A full set of these Alternative Performance definitions can be found on our website.

Analyst presentation
The analyst presentation of the Q1 2023 Trading Update is available on www.holcim.com.

Media conference: 09:00 CEST   Analyst conference: 10:00 CEST

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The media conference at 09:00 am CEST and analyst’s conference at 10:00 am CEST will be held by phone.

In order to participate in the analyst’s conference, please go to https://www.holcim.com/investors.