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[Nov 2005]
Nine Month Sales Up at Saint-Gobain
Consolidated sales for the Saint-Gobain Group reached 25.743 billion euro for the first nine months of 2005, representing an increase of 6.9%. At constant exchange rates (based on average rates for the first nine months of 2004) sales were up 6.8% on an actual structure basis and 1.9% on a comparable structure basis. Prices edged up 1.7% while volumes expanded by 0.2%.
Following the upturn in the second quarter, the group's organic growth slowed down in the third quarter due, on the one hand, to the high comparison basis of Q3 2004 and, on the other hand, to the more difficult economic climate due to the strong rise in energy costs.
The Building Distribution Sector reported a sharp 12.7% increase in sales on an actual structure basis, thanks to the contribution of its recent acquisitions to the nine-month figures, particularly Dahl, Sanitas-Troesch and Optimera.
The High-Performance Materials Sector generated like-for-like sales growth of 0.6%. The increased witnessed in Ceramics & Plastics and Abrasives, in terms of both volumes and prices, was offset by a fall in Reinforcement sales.
Sales in the Flat Glass Sector were up slightly on a comparable structure and exchange rate basis. Business continued to be buoyed by the building market in Europe and emerging countries, while the automotive market remained stable.
Packaging Sector sales edged up slightly on a like-for-like basis, with the price increases implemented across the sector offsetting the slight drop in sales volume in Europe (particularly Germany).
The Construction Products Sector posted the group's strongest organic growth, at 3.7%. Building Materials and particularly Insulation reported excellent growth figures, at 4.4% and 5.6% respectively, propelled by the robust construction markets in Europe (with the exception of Germany) and by the increase in sales prices at the start of the year. Pipe sales evened out over the first nine months of 2005, due to a recent turnaround in sales volumes and further price increases in the third quarter.
ENDS