2014 a year of strong progress for CRH

Company sees a return to profit and margin growth for year ended 31 December 2014

CRH plc, the Dublin-based international building materials group, has reported an 11% increase in EBITDA, to €1.64 billion for the year ended 31 December 2014, on sales revenue that was up 5% to €18.9 billion.

Last year’s pre-tax profit of €761 million contrasted with a loss of €215 million in 2013, while 2014 saw operating profit (EBIT) rise 29% to €966 million.   

The company attributed the results, in part, to an improving economic backdrop, with the US recovery gaining momentum and Europe normalizing.

CRH chief executive Albert Manifold (pictured) said: ‘2014 was a year of strong strategic, operational and financial progress for CRH. We were able to use the underlying strength of our business to capitalize on the recovering markets and deliver a return to profit and margin growth.

‘With further improvements expected in market conditions across our main geographies, together with easing commodity prices, the benefits of cost efficiencies and a favourable exchange translation effect, we expect 2015 to be another year of progress.’