Lafarge Ciment revises estimated growth upwards to 30%

Lafarge Ciment, the domestic branch of the French group Lafarge, the most profitable company in the constructions industry, has revised its estimates for this year’s turnover upwards, to 300 million euros, after a strong sales increase in the first half of the year. Lafarge Cement initially estimated a 20% turnover increase for this year. However, after the local branch of the French group reported an 84% sales increase in the first six months of the year, company representatives increased the estimated growth rate to 30%. Results in the first half of the year were generated by an increase in the volume of products sold, as a result of the reduction in exports and of a heightened focus on retail on the Romanian market. At the end of last year, the company exported around 20% of the cement produced in Romania, and intends to reduce the share of exports to around 15% this year. “Good weather was the main factor behind the positive results registered in the first half of the year, which allowed construction works to take place. I cannot estimate an exact figure for turnover. I think we will see turnover increase just below 30% by the end of the year, but could attain this percentage if the last couple of months of 2007 benefit from the same good weather” said Philippe Platon, Lafarge’s financial manager, as quoted by the Mediafax agency.