Lafarge Ciment budgets 260m-euro sales

Lafarge Ciment, the local branch of the French manufacturer of construction materials Lafarge, registered a 34.3% increase in sales last year compared with 2005 – seeing double growth against initial estimates. The total turnover derived by Lafarge Ciment amounted to approximately 233 million euros in 2006. The French group estimates that sales will rise by some 10-15% this year, which could trigger a turnover exceeding 260 million euros by the end of 2007. Lafarge Ciment witnessed a 30.3% rise in the volume of sales in 2006, while the rise in prices determined a 4% increase in sales. The strong growth of the real estate market and the increase in the number of infrastructure works have been the main catalysts behind the rise in sales, according to the companyes representatives. In addition, the companyes operating profit has increased significantly amid great demand from the market, as well as in the high export sales of cement. According to the latest data available, Lafarge Ciment exports 1 million tonnes of cement per year, which represent approximately 30% of the total companyes output, with the cement being primarily exported to countries in Western Africa. Lafarge is the worldes largest cement manufacturer and is one of the leaders in the construction materials industry.