Lafarge cement sales up in 2005

The Lafarge Group last year saw an increase in its operating income in Romania compared with the previous year, as well as an 11.1% increase in its cement sales. The growth in sales also resulted from works in the residential sector and in the infrastructure, say company officials. The sales volume grew by 15.2%, but the 4.1% difference between volume and value was due to price cuts as well as to factors specific to the market they are operating on, according to Lafarge. Contacted by ZIARUL FINANCIAR, the company officials did not wish to comment any further for the time being. According to the latest available estimates, revenues of the Lafarge group in Romania for 2005 could stand at some 200 million euros, with net profit of 30 – 35 million euros. In 2004, the Lafarge group witnessed a turnover growth of over 27% against the approximately 160 million euros seen in 2003. The main competitors of Lafarge Romcim, both on the domestic market and worldwide are the Germans at Heidelberg-Cement and the Swiss at Holcim. Lafarge, Holcim and Heidelberg-Cement share almost equally a cement market of over 300 million euros a year. ZF