Lafarge sales up 27% in H1

Lafarge’s turnover on the Romanian cement market rose 27.7% in the first half compared with the level in January-June 2003, exceeding the 22.2% pace recorded across Central Europe, the group’s half-year report shows. Lafarge exceeded its forecasts for the Romanian market last year, when it logged 159.7 million euro turnover instead of the projected 150 million euros. The total turnover of the French group, the world’s largest cement producer, reached 6.794bn euros in the first half, up 7% compared with the same time last year. The negative exchange rate fluctuations made a 3.8% impact on the sales. The French group is doing business in 75 countries, and employs 75,000 people. It posted 13.6bn euro sales in 2003. Lafarge has been operating in Romania since 1997, through Lafarge Romcim, Lafarge Agregate, Lafarge Arcom Gips and the partners in the roofing material business. ZF