Holcim
A Swiss-based global building-materials company focused on cement, aggregates, concrete, and construction solutions.
Last updated August 27, 2026
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Overview
Holcim is a Swiss global building-materials company whose principal activities include cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and related construction solutions. Its roots date to 1912, when Adolf Gygi founded Aargauische Portlandcementfabrik Holderbank-Wildegg in Switzerland. After a 1914 combination with Rheintalischen Cementfabrik Rüthi, the business came under the leadership of the Schmidheiny family and began expanding through investments in existing cement and building-materials companies. The company moved beyond Switzerland in the 1920s, establishing or acquiring interests in France and later Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Egypt, Lebanon, and South Africa. After the Second World War, Holderbank benefited from Swiss housing and infrastructure demand and expanded into Canada and other parts of the Americas. It became publicly listed in 1958, raising capital for further international growth. During the 1970s and 1980s, the company consolidated Swiss holdings, expanded through Latin America, entered Asian and Spanish markets, and developed a broad international portfolio. By the mid-1980s it was described as the world's largest cement manufacturer. The company adopted the name Holcim in 2001, derived from Holderbank and ciment. Its expansion accelerated in emerging markets during the 2000s. Notable transactions included the 2005 acquisition of Aggregate Industries, which expanded its United Kingdom presence, investments in India's ACC and Ambuja Cement, a major holding in China's Huaxin Cement, and the 2009 acquisition of Cemex Australia's operations. Cement, aggregates, and ready-mix concrete remained central, while the business also developed asphalt, contracting materials, and other products used in infrastructure, housing, commercial construction, and industrial projects. Holcim and Lafarge announced a proposed merger of equals in April 2014. The transaction was completed on 10 July 2015, creating LafargeHolcim. Holcim remained an important operating brand within the new group. The group was renamed Holcim Group in 2021, restoring Holcim as the corporate identity. In the 2020s, the company increasingly emphasized lower-carbon cement, circular use of construction and demolition materials, energy-efficient building systems, and higher-performance concrete and surfacing products. Holcim has also pursued operational decarbonization and transport electrification. In 2024 it announced a letter of intent with Mercedes-Benz Trucks covering 1,000 battery-electric eActros 600 trucks for its European fleet. The company separately announced plans to separate its North American business through a capital-markets transaction. That business was listed as Amrize on 23 June 2025, while Holcim remained listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and continued with its NextGen Growth 2030 strategy. Holcim's present positioning combines large-scale cement and aggregates production with construction systems, circular materials, and efforts to reduce the environmental impact of building.
History
Holcim began in 1912 as Aargauische Portlandcementfabrik Holderbank-Wildegg, founded by Adolf Gygi in the Swiss canton of Aargau. A 1914 merger with Rheintalischen Cementfabrik Rüthi brought the company under the leadership of Ernst Schmidheiny. The resulting Holderbank business expanded internationally by taking stakes in cement companies rather than relying solely on greenfield construction. During the 1920s it entered France and developed interests in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Egypt, Lebanon, and South Africa. Following the Second World War, Hans Gygi led the company during a period of strong Swiss housing and infrastructure demand. Holderbank expanded into Canada and then across North and South America. Its 1958 public listing provided additional capital for international growth. Hydroelectric construction in Switzerland generated important concrete demand, while the nationalization of Egyptian factories created pressure on part of the overseas portfolio. In the 1970s the company strengthened its position in Brazil and Mexico and consolidated holdings with Schweizerischen Cement-Industrie-Gesellschaft. The combination produced a much larger group, although the 1973 oil crisis reduced construction activity in many markets. Operations in Lebanon and South Africa helped the company withstand the downturn, and revenue and profit had recovered to pre-crisis levels by 1976. Expansion continued in Latin America, Asia, Spain, Eastern Europe, and Russia during the late 1970s through the 1990s. Spanish construction growth connected with preparations for the 1992 Summer Olympics also supported the business. Holderbank changed its corporate name to Holcim in 2001. The name was formed from Holderbank and ciment and reflected the group's increasingly international identity. Growth in Asia and other emerging markets became particularly important during the 2000s. Holcim acquired Aggregate Industries in 2005, expanding its British business, and increased its presence in India through investments in ACC and Ambuja Cement. It became the largest shareholder of China's Huaxin Cement in 2008 and acquired Cemex Australia's operations in 2009. In April 2014, Holcim and Lafarge announced a merger of equals. The transaction involved the exchange of Lafarge shares for Holcim shares and required shareholder and regulatory approvals. It was completed on 10 July 2015, creating LafargeHolcim, while the Holcim name remained active for operating businesses and market-facing activities. The group restored Holcim as its corporate name in 2021. The contemporary company combines traditional building-materials production with building solutions. Its activities include cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, energy-efficient building systems, high-performance concrete, surfacing, and circular materials made from construction and demolition waste. Decarbonization has become a central strategic theme, including lower-carbon cement formulations, alternative fuels, material circularity, and electric logistics. In 2024 Holcim announced a planned European order of 1,000 battery-electric trucks from Mercedes-Benz Trucks. It also announced the separation of its North American business, completed through the listing of Amrize on 23 June 2025. Holcim remained a separately listed Swiss group and announced its NextGen Growth 2030 strategy in March 2025.
- 2025
North American business separated as Amrize
[1]Holcim completed the separation and listing of its North American business as Amrize on 23 June 2025.
- 2024
Electric-truck fleet commitment announced
[1]Holcim announced plans for 1,000 battery-electric trucks for European operations.
- 2021
Group renamed Holcim
[1]The combined group adopted the Holcim Group name.
- 2015
Lafarge merger completed
[1]Holcim and Lafarge completed their combination, creating LafargeHolcim.
- 2008
Investment in Huaxin Cement
[1]Holcim became the largest shareholder of China's Huaxin Cement with a 40 percent stake.
- 2005
Expansion into the United Kingdom and India
[1]Holcim acquired Aggregate Industries and increased its interests in Indian cement companies.
- 2001
Holderbank adopts the Holcim name
[1]Holderbank Financière Glaris changed its name to Holcim.
- 1986
Becomes the world's largest cement manufacturer
[1]Holderbank was described as the world's largest cement manufacturer after decades of international growth.
- 1958
Public listing
[1]The company went public to raise capital for further international expansion.
- 1922
First major international expansion
[1]Holderbank expanded beyond Switzerland into France and subsequently built interests elsewhere in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Products and positioning
A global building-materials leader combining cement and aggregates scale with lower-carbon products, circular construction materials, and integrated building solutions.
Building materials
Cement
Cement is Holcim's foundational product category and is used as the binding component in concrete, mortar, infrastructure, housing, and industrial construction. The group's contemporary portfolio includes conventional cement as well as lower-carbon and decarbonized products designed to reduce the emissions intensity of construction.
Building materials
Aggregates
Aggregates such as crushed stone, gravel, and sand are supplied for concrete, asphalt, road construction, foundations, and other infrastructure uses. Holcim operates quarrying and processing activities and increasingly promotes recycled and circular aggregates made from construction and demolition materials.
Concrete
Ready-mix concrete
Ready-mix concrete is produced to specified formulations and delivered to building and infrastructure sites. Holcim's ready-mix activities support residential, commercial, transport, and civil-engineering projects, including applications requiring higher performance, durability, or reduced embodied carbon.
Construction solutions
Building solutions
Holcim's building-solutions activities extend beyond basic materials into energy-efficient building systems, high-performance concrete, surfacing, and related construction products. These offerings are intended to help customers improve construction productivity, building performance, durability, and resource efficiency.
Recycled materials
Circular construction materials
Circular materials use recovered construction and demolition waste as inputs for new construction products or aggregates. This area supports Holcim's strategy of reducing landfill use, conserving virgin resources, and lowering the environmental footprint of construction-material supply chains.
Marketing campaigns
- Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction
International
The Holcim Foundation promotes discussion and recognition of approaches to sustainable construction through projects, research, and awards associated with the built environment.
Outcome. Ongoing foundation and awards activities are referenced in the company's associated materials.
Brand decisions
2024
Commit to a large European battery-electric truck fleetStrategyBackground
Heavy construction-material logistics is a significant source of operational emissions, creating pressure to decarbonize vehicle fleets.
Action taken
Holcim and Mercedes-Benz Trucks signed a letter of intent covering 1,000 eActros 600 battery-electric trucks for Europe.
Aftermath
The plan was presented as a major step toward Holcim's transport and sustainability objectives.
2024
Announce separation of North American businessStrategyBackground
Holcim announced a plan to give its North American business a separate capital-markets identity while retaining a listed Swiss group focused on its remaining international operations.
Action taken
The company initiated a full capital-markets separation that resulted in the listing of Amrize.
Aftermath
The separation was completed on 23 June 2025, and Holcim continued as a SIX Swiss Exchange-listed company.
2014
Agree to merger of equals with LafargeM&ABackground
Holcim and Lafarge sought to combine their global cement and building-materials operations in a transaction valued at approximately US$60 billion.
Action taken
The companies agreed a share-exchange structure in which Lafarge shares would be converted into Holcim shares, subject to approvals.
Aftermath
The transaction was completed in July 2015, creating LafargeHolcim.
Announced transaction value. Approximately US$60 billion (2014 announcement)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Holcim announces acquisition of Cem'In'Eu Group[3]
Holcim announced the acquisition of Cem'In'Eu Group in its third-quarter financial results. The transaction value was not disclosed.
- Unconfirmed
Holcim reports first-nine-month 2026 results[4]
Holcim reported that net sales rose 5.7% year-on-year to €13.7bn and recurring EBIT grew 6.1% to €2.62bn in the first nine months of 2026.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Holcim partners on energy storage solution development[5]
Holcim is collaborating with INSA Lyon and ENGIE Lab CRIGEN to investigate integrating a cementitious-material energy-storage solution into a heating network and broader energy infrastructure.
- Unconfirmed
Holcim, Engie and INSA Lyon collaborate on cement-based energy storage[6]
Holcim is collaborating with Engie and the French National Institute of Applied Sciences Lyon to develop cement-based energy storage technology intended as an alternative to batteries. The solution is described as using cement hydration to store heat as energy and release it when needed.
Reported
Holcim and Eni partner on carbon capture[7]
Holcim partnered with Eni to advance its carbon-capture portfolio. Eni will contribute carbon-capture and mineralization expertise, while Holcim researchers explore using carbonated olivine as a low-emission raw material for green cement.
Reported
Holcim issues sustainability-linked bonds in Switzerland[8]
Holcim issued two sustainability-linked bonds in the Swiss franc market, raising CHF 325 million and CHF 100 million, with maturities in 2026 and 2032.
Reported
Holcim agrees to acquire PRB[9]
Holcim entered into an agreement to acquire Produits de Revêtement de Bâtiment (PRB), described as France’s biggest independent manufacturer of specialty building solutions.
- Unconfirmed
Aggregate Industries completes acquisition of Cowden assets[10]
LafargeHolcim in the United States announced the acquisition of Cowden Inc.'s ready-mix concrete and aggregate assets through its wholly owned subsidiary Aggregate Industries. The announcement says more than 100 Cowden employees will join AI and the operation will become a division of Aggregate Industries Pacific Northwest.
Reported
Holcim completes acquisition of Marshall Concrete Products[11]
Holcim completed its acquisition of Marshall Concrete Products, a concrete products and services supplier in the Minneapolis–St Paul area. Marshall Concrete Products and its employees became part of Holcim in the US.
Reported
Holcim closes sale of Zambian business to Huaxin Cement[12]
Holcim closed the sale of its Zambian business, representing a 75 per cent stake, to Huaxin Cement for an enterprise value of US$150 million for 100 per cent ownership, following Chinese and Zambian authority approvals.
Sources21 sources
- 1Holcimen.wikipedia.org
- 2Holcim corporate websiteholcim.com
- 3Holcim宣布收购Cem'In'Eu Groupglobalcement.com
- 4Holcim公布2026年前九个月业绩globalcement.com
- 5Holcim携手合作方开发储能方案worldcement.com
- 6Holcim、Engie 与 INSA Lyon 合作开发水泥基储能技术globalcement.com
- 7Holcim 与 Eni 合作推进碳捕集finanznachrichten.de
- 8Holcim在瑞士发行可持续发展挂钩债券finanznachrichten.de
- 9Holcim同意收购PRBcemnet.com
- 10Aggregate Industries 完成对 Cowden 资产的收购itbusinessnet.com
- 11Holcim完成对Marshall Concrete Products的收购cemnet.com
- 12Holcim完成向华新水泥出售赞比亚业务cemnet.com
- 13Holcim加入联合国全球契约首席财务官工作组finanznachrichten.de
- 14Holcim收购Polcalcglobalcement.com
- 15Holcim同意将其巴西业务出售给CSNfinanznachrichten.de
- 16Holcim在六个欧洲市场和加拿大推出ECOPlanet水泥globalcement.com
- 17LafargeHolcim更名为Holcim Groupworldcement.com
- 18Holcim推出新的企业品牌形象globalcement.com
- 19Holcim同意收购Heinrich Teufelcemnet.com
- 20Holcim Mexico在尤卡坦州启用水泥粉磨厂globalcement.com
- 21Holcim divests Brazilian businesscemnet.com
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