Texas Industries reported rise in cement sales by 20% year-on-year to US$104m for the first quarter of its 2013 2014 financial year, compared to US$87.3m in the same period in the previous year. The shipments rose by 17% to 1.31mt from 1.12mt. The company has earned a income of US$429,000 for the first quarter of 2013 2014. This was a recovery from the up from a net loss of US$2.66m in the same period in 2012 2013. Net sales increased by 34% to US$233m from US$175m. CEO Mel Brekhus attributed the success to the company’s new kiln in central Texas, stating that it was the most successful of any he had been involved with in his career.