 |
 |
||||||
[January 2004]
Lafarge Roofing Expands Asian Presence
Lafarge Roofing is continuing its business growth in South-East Asia. On 6 January 2004, a clay roof tile plant was opened in Rayong in Thailand. One day later, a concrete roof tile plant started operation in Bangalore in India. Since 1998 Lafarge has started production at an additional 12 plants in six Asian countries. Overall, the company is active in nine countries in South-East Asia. Over 1,600 employees contributed to achieving sales totalling €106 million in the region in 2002.
Over the past three years, either production capacities or the product portfolio were expanded in those countries where business activities were already established and new markets were opened in countries such as Cambodia, Laos and South Korea. Here, as well as in Thailand and the Philippines, Lafarge Roofing formed joint ventures with the Siam Cement Group (Bangkok, Thailand).
"South-East Asia is characterized by strongly expanding economies. Rising incomes, population growth and the increasing popularity of building one's own home are good conditions for our roofing material business," commented Dr Ulrich Glaunach, CEO of Lafarge Roofing. He said that the accelerated internationalisation meant that the company was increasingly less dependent on a German market which has been shrinking for years. Activities in Asia, Africa, North and South America, which were not established until over the course of the past four years, had already managed to achieve a 12% contribution to the EBIT in 2002. During the same period, the contribution from Germany dropped from 67% to 23%. The share of other European countries expanded 65%.
"Today we are a truly international business with an increasingly balanced presence on four continents, giving us a firm footing from which we can take our next steps," said Dr Glaunach.
ENDS