RPT-UPDATE 1-HeidelbergCement sees U.S. recovery sooner

(Repeats to additional Reuters clients)

* Q1 net loss 199 mln eur vs 181 mln poll avg

* Sees faster U.S. recovery than previously

* Q1 net debt rises to 8.96 bln eur from 8.4 bln at yr-end

* Shares indicated up 0.1 pct, in line with market

(Adds details, background)

FRANKFURT, May 6 (Reuters) - Germany's HeidelbergCement (HEIG.DE) became the latest cement maker to see a cold winter and sluggish construction activity weigh on first-quarter results, but it raised hopes for a quicker recovery in its key U.S. market.

HeidelbergCement, which competes with cement makers such as Swiss group Holcim (HOLN.VX) and France's Lafarge (LAFP.PA), said its quarterly net loss widened to 199 million euros ($258 million) from 63 million a year earlier, worse than the 181 million euros expected by analysts in a Reuters poll. [ID:nLDE63T0QZ]

The group, which derives almost a third of sales from North America, said it saw a continued recovery of its U.S. business in the second quarter after a pickup in U.S. road construction. In March, the company, which was formerly controlled by Germany's industrial heir Ludwig Merckle, had said it did not see an upswing there before the second half. [ID:nLDE62H04A]

Still, North American and European operations would see an overall decline in sales volumes in the first half.

HeidelbergCement, which generated 35 percent of its sales in emerging markets last year, added Asian and North African markets continued to grow.

First-quarter operating profit before depreciation slid 15 percent to 202 million euros on a 7.6 percent drop in revenue.

Lafarge, the world's largest cement maker, on Wednesday said it expected demand to start to recover in developed countries in the second half of the year. [ID:nLDE6440CZ]

The day before, Swiss rival Holcim (HOLN.VX) posted a narrower quarterly net loss than expected but warned the outlook for Europe and North America was still uncertain after heavy snowfalls in early 2010. [ID:nLDE6420OB]

Holcim cautioned that the outlook for Europe and North America was still uncertain.

HeidelbergCement on Thursday also voiced caution: "Early cutbacks to the economic stimulus programmes, cost-saving measures by some governments ... and persistently high unemployment may slow down the impending economic recovery."

Net debt at the end of March increased to 8.96 billion euros, up from 8.4 billion by end-2009, said the company, which has been burdened by debt from the $16 billion takeover of British rival Hanson in 2007. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger)