Southdown reported net earnings for the three months ending Sept. 30, 1998, of $73.1 million, compared with $58 million for that period in the previous year. Operating earnings for the quarter were $107 million, a 14.7% increase over 1997's third quarter. Net earnings from continuing operations for the nine-month period ending Sept. 30, 1998 were $65.7 million, compared with $114.5 million in the prior year. Operating earnings for the first nine months of 1998, before charges related to the merger with Medusa, increased to $219.8 million, compared to $188.4 million during 1997.

Cemex has announced that its net sales increased 6% in real dollar terms during the third quarter of 1998. According to the company, the increase was attributable to strong pricing and higher domestic demand in many of its markets. In addition, Cemex's operating cash flow grew 11%, operating income increased 20%, and cash earnings (operating cash flow less less net interest expense) climbed 23%, all in real dollar terms.

Republic Group reported that demand and selling prices for gypsum wallboard remains strong, while the doubling of the company's gypsum wallboard plant in Duke, Okla., is still on target for mid-December 1999. The company's other project, the construction of the Lawton, Okla. recycled paperboard mill, also continues to be on schedule. Republic's net sales of $33 million for the third quarter marked a new record for the company and were 4% greater than third quarter 1997 sales. The increase in consolidated net sales from the 1997 quarter to the 1998 quarter was primarily attributable to a 14% increase in gypsum wallboard selling prices, the company said.

Giant Cement Holdings announced record revenues and earnings for its third quarter, ending Sept. 30, 1998. Revenues from the Solite acquisition increased 50% over last year, while net income increased 13%. Cement shipping volume increased 6% for the quarter to 434,000 tons, as pricing increased 4%. For the quarter, shipping volume increased 1% and pricing was up 3%. Giant continues to ship in excess of production capacity at both its plants, resulting in the need to supplement production capacity with higher-cost imported cement and clinker in order to meet customer demand. The results of the resource recovery operation associated with the cement operations also showed improvement over the second quarter, but were down from the levels of the third quarter of 1997.

Ciment Francias announced that consolidated sales for the nine months ending Sept. 30, 1998 totaled 10,368 million French francs, an increase of 5.8% from the same period in 1997. The company expects favorable trends in all 1999 markets with the exception of Belgium. These results are in-line with company forecasts for a significant rise in full-year income.