Vicat achieves sales up 6% in Q3 and remains optimistic for the whole of 2020

From July to September, its turnover thus amounted to 762 million euros, an increase of 12% at constant scope and exchange rates.

"The performance of the Vicat group over the first 9 months of 2020 demonstrates its resilience and strong ability to seize growth opportunities that arise in its markets. The Covid impact on operational profitability (...) has been erased at the end of July ", welcomed its CEO, Guy Sidos, quoted in a press release.

Thus, while the cement company expected a "moderate decline" in its gross operating surplus (EBITDA) this summer in 2020, it now hopes for "marked growth" at constant scope and exchange rates.

At the end of September, this indicator reached 403 million euros, an increase of 8,1% over one year (+ 11,7% at constant scope and exchange rates).

Vicat explains his optimism by "the upturn in activity, especially in France and India" and by the "dynamism of the Americas and Africa regions".

The group, which moved its head office from La Défense, near Paris, to Isle-d'Abeau (Isère) in October, also highlights the decline in energy costs and its cost reduction program structure valued at € 28 million.

Over the first nine months of the year, its turnover rose slightly, by 0,3%, to 2,1 billion euros (+ 2,1% at constant scope and exchange rates).

In France, its main market which accounts for almost a third of its sales, turnover fell 5,8% (at constant scope) from January to September to 713 million euros, despite the dynamism of the third quarter ( + 7,7%).